Bab Tooma York in York

5 of us went out for a wedding suit fitting, we stumbled across this place and being honest we only went because we couldn’t get a table anywhere else. Wow, some of the best food I’ve eaten, if you like meat and grill, this is your place. Outstanding food and a great service, prices are more than reasonable. Will be back very soon.

Disappointing meal out in York having eaten at Bab Toomi in Leeds and loved it. Tired and not the cleanest interior and although there was loads of staff milling about the service wasn’t great, interspersed with the manager shouting at the staff from right by our table and seeking flustered every time people arrived (despite not being full). The food was nice to be fair and flavoursome but the rest really let it down. Could have done without seeing staff vaping in the kitchen too.

Take away order via UberEats. Only half of the order was delivered. Contacted the restaurant who knew that only half of the order (1/2 bags had been collected by the courier). Was told to reorder a small item and a new order would be delivered. Could not order just chips (as advised), so ordered chips & pickle tray and repaid for delivery (£10+). Had also tipped the first courier 10%!! The order has just arrived almost 3 hours after the first order (and 2 hours after the complaint/second order) was placed plus we have paid for a second small order & second delivery charge (on top of a 10% tip to the first courier). Unacceptable and food is stone cold on delivery. I would like a refund. Very disappointed.

Food was good, nothing to complain there and timely. Unfortunately, due to overbooking, there were issues with our reservation, we had the table 15' later than we booked and had to wait outside in the cold. The complimentary soup that other tables were receiving also never arrived. The waiter also was a bit confused and brought us other's change even though we had just sat down

A Culinary Journey to Syria at Bab Tooma If you're looking to experience authentic Syrian flavors in a warm, inviting atmosphere, look no further than **Bab Tooma**. From the moment you step inside, you’re transported to the heart of Syria with its beautiful decor, attentive service, and, most importantly, the incredible food. **Food: 5/5** The star of the show at Bab Tooma is undoubtedly the food. Every dish is a vibrant, delicious tribute to Syrian culinary tradition. We started with the **Hummus with Lamb**, and it was sublime. The hummus was perfectly creamy, with a rich, smoky flavor from the tender lamb topping. The **Mutabbal** (smoky eggplant dip) was equally impressive—smooth, rich, and full of depth. For the main course, I ordered the **Shawarma Plate**, which was simply divine. The lamb shawarma was incredibly juicy, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned, with crispy edges that added a wonderful texture. The accompanying garlic sauce was creamy and fragrant, enhancing the dish beautifully. My companion tried the **Kebab Halla**, and it was just as fantastic—succulent meat, charred perfectly, and served with a side of warm, fresh pita bread and tangy pickles. The **Fatteh** was another highlight—a savory blend of crispy pita, yogurt, and chickpeas, topped with perfectly spiced meat and pine nuts. It was an explosion of flavors and textures that left me wanting more. To finish, we couldn’t resist the **Baklava**, which was the perfect end to the meal—light, flaky, and just the right balance of sweetness and crunch. Paired with a cup of Turkish coffee, it was the ideal conclusion to a memorable meal. **Service: 5/5** The service at Bab Tooma is as impressive as the food. The staff is incredibly welcoming, attentive, and passionate about the menu. They were happy to recommend dishes and take the time to explain the origins of each, which made the experience even more enjoyable. The pacing was spot on—everything arrived at just the right time, allowing us to savor each dish without feeling rushed. **Atmosphere: 5/5** The ambiance of Bab Tooma is cozy and inviting, with elegant Middle Eastern touches that make it feel both upscale and homely. The warm lighting, traditional décor, and soft music create a relaxed and comfortable setting, perfect for both casual meals and special occasions. **Value: 5/5** The quality of the food, combined with the generous portions, makes Bab Tooma a great value for money. While the dishes are priced a little higher than your average casual dining spot, the flavors, authenticity, and overall experience make it well worth it. **Overall: 5/5** Bab Tooma is a hidden gem that brings the best of Syrian cuisine to your table. Whether you're new to Syrian food or already a fan, this restaurant offers an unforgettable experience with flavors that feel like home. The combination of outstanding food, exceptional service, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere make Bab Tooma a must-visit for anyone in search of truly authentic Middle Eastern dining. I can’t wait to return and explore more of the menu 😁

Excellent service with Excellent food and the atmosphere was brilliant I would definitely recommend trying their food especially the kebeh

Toilets were an absolute disgrace. Broken toilet seat, no hand soap, non working hand dryer- blue roll was supplied but the only bin for the blue roll was the ladies sani bin! Food was amazing as was the service. Can’t fault the quality of the food but i don't want to think what the kitchen looks like if the very basics of clean toilets can’t be met.

Starter was lovely, mains good but rather pricey for what they were (heavy on rice). Service was quite off-hand and it was hard to tell who was serving as they were just in slightly grubby random sweat-shirts. Just felt like no one was really on the case to be honest.

Such a lovely place to eat, best food I have had in a long time. Just visited York and would request one to be opened in my home town Nottingham please😀

Great food, great service and great team!

Delicious and delightful, sumptuous superb food, so tasty and filling. We called in and the warm greeting was so very nice and the decor and atmosphere, really welcoming. We had humus, so smooth and tasty and aubergine dip - Mutabbal - which was so very good. For main, we have karren yarek, a very delicate but flavoursome aubergine stuffed with lamb, really very good and a two skewers chicken option. The freshly baked bread is really very good and the tea - warming and calming cardamom goodness. Turkish Coffee and Grande Kunafa was the perfect ending. The Kunafa was so unusual yet so good. This was delightful. Really such a lovely meal. Our host added to the experience, a little guidance was perfect.

Best food place ,I've been in years. Highly recommend 👌🏻

The best restaurant I have eaten in, and the restaurant manager embarrassed us with his generosity. May God reward him. The rest of the employees were very nice. Their shawarma is very delicious. You have to try it.

The best restaurant I have ever visited in York, highly recommended. Peraples are so kinds and the place is beautiful

First time had food from this place and it's amazing food ,lovely staff ,food was so delicious. My kids loved it ,would definitely recommend this place.

Very friendly and helpful staff, authentic atmosphere and great food. Will definitely visit again!

Delicious food and good service.

Great tasty food. The falafel were crisp and airy as they should be (and aren’t often!) The complimentary lentil soup was a lovely touch and delicious. The lamb and chicken shawarma we had were good, but the cheese was a little overpowering. It detracted from the taste of the meat and herbs. That said, this was a great meal and we’ll be happy to come again!

the sujuk shawarma has given me the worst food poisoning possible :( i thought it tasted okay but clearly something was wrong and the ingredients werent fresh

First thing I am walking through the streets of York I pass many great shops and restaurants but then there is one hiding in the corner with no one inside but since I had to get halal food I was forced to go. I should have read the reviews ; never coming back. This is not a great place if you have kids because chicken nuggets is bloody £10 which is so overpriced. Everything here is overpriced Like my friend had shuduk shawarma and was sick all night. My other friend ordered chops and guess what they full of FAT (40% bone 30% fat which is outrageous). I ordered some shish taok and it is £13 just for 5 small chicken cubes, I also ordered the chips which can’t be messed up right well guess what the chips had no potato in it felt like I was eating poo. All the chicken was so undercooked wasn’t even warm the chips don’t get me started on more rant about that. We even tested the staff if they deserved £5 And it was if they packed our food away and put it in the box they would get a tip because we did not finish this awful food and wanted to do something better with our lives. Never coming never reviewing again never saying this name again never recommending again. Don’t listen to some of the 5 star reviews it is all full of bots. If you want an honest review then come and read the lowest 1 star reviews. We had 9 people come together so we would expect that they would actually cook food maybe next time they need to let me cook. Rude staff some were just in the corner with their mates and were just messing about. Thank to whoever read this detailed explanation about why this place stinks. I hope you had time to do other stuff as I have been writing a super long review Have a great day. 11:12 uk time Sunday 3rd of November Sincerely, Raystar2099 also known as Ray

Visitamos aquí recientemente, mientras que en York, ya que nunca habíamos probado la comida siria y ciertamente no se puede conseguir nada como esto de vuelta a donde vivimos. Todo fue excelente. La comida era genial, porciones de gran tamaño y a un precio razonable. El personal era muy atento. Los baños yo diría que como un crítico anterior ha dicho no son los más limpios, pero aparte de eso no hay quejas. Sin duda volvería

Meat flavourful, succulent and plentiful. Nicely decorated. Bread is fresh.

Absolutely delicious food and service Highly recommended

Parece muy extraño, especialmente después de leer las críticas. Echamos un vistazo a alrededor de las 7. 45 pm, decidí que se veía bien, y pregunté si podíamos volver alrededor de las 8 . 30 pm, la persona que hablamos dijo que estaba bien, y confirmó que no sirven alcohol sugiriendo que podríamos traer el nuestro propio y que había una tienda Tesco justo un poco más adelante en la calle. Fuimos a tomar algo al pub, compramos una botella de vino en el camino de regreso y llegamos alrededor de las 8. 30 pm. Nos ofrecieron una opción de mesas ya que no estaba muy ocupado, la mayoría de la gente parecía estar hacia el final de sus comidas. Hasta ahora tan bueno todo muy agradable. Pero luego no pasó absolutamente nada, durante 15 minutos nos quedamos sentados mirándonos y los dos o tres empleados se quedaron parados sin hacer nada, pero no llegó nada en absoluto, de hecho, un par de mesas que claramente habían terminado sus comidas y les habían dado sus cuentas parecían hartarse de esperar y tenían que ir a los miembros del personal para intentar pagar. Sin embargo, 15 minutos de nada, es decir, suficiente para nosotros, así que nos levantamos y nos fuimos, aunque nadie preguntó eso. Fui al restaurante de arriba, que era muy bueno. No lo entiendo en absoluto, el personal me pareció agradable, las críticas son buenas, ya habíamos comprobado y acordado que habíamos venido en un momento determinado. Oh bueno espero que haya alguna razón, en alguna parte, y fue una buena botella de vino que compramos, y encontramos un nuevo restaurante para ir la próxima vez que estemos en York, así como uno para evitar

Not dog friendly and you have to bring your own sauce (booze) which is fine. Booked online but on arrival booking didn’t exist however we they were able to find us a table. Food was incredibly tasty, although my “create my own grill” arrived wrong. The lemon and mint drink was amazing, however pricey (£6.50). The toilets were a scene, not very clean and only two. The staff weren’t super friendly and quite rude when spending a lot of money on a meal. The food was great, service poor. Unfortunately we probably wouldn’t return.

We arrived late in York and this was one of the few places with availability. Starting with the positives: the place had a buzzing ambience and the sharing cold mezze (selection of dips was tasty), however, we experienced the most bizarre service from our waiter who just kept answering 'no' to everything we asked for. This was meant to be funny but it was literally at every single thing we said all night, it was just quite odd behaviour.... Food also arrived at odd times with one person at our table without their food until we pointed it out. The explanation was that we hadn't said we wanted his dish at the same time (how about the fact we weren't asked?) and that there wasn't enough room on the table (there was), then one of the dishes was also missed off the order, and when it arrived the portion was miniscule for the pricing and also not as described on the menu. When this was mentioned to staff we got a very odd explanation about the prices being set 10 years ago... All in all quite a strange evening. Gave us a good laugh because of how weird it was, but not somewhere any of us will be rushing back to!

Good place to eat for a halal option. However, I wouldn't rate the food anywhere near the Bab Tooma Grande on Leeds Rd, the rice was like warmed up, and not the normal flavour we're used to from the chicken skewer or lamb kobeda. The chicken liver was excellent.

Extremely poor. Both food and service. We had to ask for them to take our order, staff were standing around on their phone laughing and messing around. We ordered the feast sharing platter which was pathetic to be paying £42 for, under seasoned and completely lacking in meat and flavour for £42 worth, they give the tiniest amount of sauce and give you mostly bread. A waste of money and time going, there are much nicer places to go just a couple seconds walk down the road which we wished we had gone to instead. Immature staff and lack of flavour, not worth your money at all.

The food and the portion sizes are absolutely disgusting. Absolute rip off. Never again.

The food was perfect so delicious 😍 and the staff very friendly 🤍 and the vibes is amazing 🤩

Absolutely fantastic food,so delicious! We booked early online and got a £25 of voucher if we spent over £50. Definitely would visit here again

Food was amazing!!! Good value and quality. Friendly staff. One thing not so good was they moved us for our dessert which was a bit odd but can understand if they needed the table we were sat at. Other than that was very good and would recommend!

The best Arabic restaurant in York

Great atmosphere, decor and delicious food!! The portion was great my wife and I got the kebbeh, yalangi and the mixed grill. Abu Ali the owner of the resturant was very welcoming and friendly to talk to. Ended the night with some special Shami tea. Great time overall will come again if and when I come back to York!

Friendly service, delicious food, wonderful atmosphere. Will come again!

Food came with almonds dropped in, no mention on menu, no good for nut allergies. 2nd course arrived , whilst wexwere still on first course, felt rushed, and watched. Possibly because it was a groupon.

Excellent authentic Syrian food and reasonably priced (for central York). Had chicken shawarma and looking forward to lamb shawarma next time. Staff lovely too!

Delicious freshly cooked Syrian food. Staff were lovely. The lentil soup was incredible. The restaurant doesn’t serve alcohol, but the food more than made up for that. We loved the Middle Eastern decor too, which gave it a nice atmosphere. So delicious!

Really welcoming Host with great food!! I highly recommend it to everybody who is very hungry

really good food you have to check it out

It was a truly new experience for me to have Middle Eastern food in the heart of such a classic British city like York! The food was okay, though the spice was a bit too strong for my taste. Tabouleh salad was amazing 🤩 #HALAL

Spotless, superb service, excellent value and fabulous food. Thoroughly recommend this restaurant to anyone! Will be back!

Visited as part of a Taste Trail in York Food Festival. Loved it! The samples were delicious, particularly the falafel and hummus. The staff were friendly and chatty while we waited for our freshly prepared tasters. We shall certainly return soon for a full meal.

I visited Bab Tooma and I ordered for starters tabbouleh, hot patata, muhammara, and haloomi. It was absolutely delicious! For the main course, I had shish tawook, which was above excellent. I would definitely recommend the restaurant to anyone looking for authentic and delicious Arabic food.

Such pleasant staff. The food was delicious, our 2nd time here and will be back for sure. Thank you Dikshya for your professional service

Based on my visit I'm really not sure why this place gets such good reviews. The food was 'ok' at best, the service mixed with one of the waiting staff pretty useless and other a bit too over the top. Starters and mains were all dumped in the table at once, which is fine if that's how it usually works but at least give us a heads up on it. Cold sharing platter is a complete rip off for 18 quid, chicken shawarma was pretty bland, lamb shawarma was a lot better. Atmosphere was a little odd with some background music playing at the beginning which was nice but then it noticeably stopped and wasn't started again. One of our group used the toilet and reported back that it was pretty rubbish, with a broken seat, slippy floor and a flickering light. Maybe it was a one off given the other reviews but I won't be rushing back.

It is amazing play the scarves was first class from Dikshya so friendly and always with a big smile on her face

Fantastic experience had an amazing time great food highly recommend

Great food, great service thank you

Just wonderful! The food was so delicious and I wanted to eat it all! Brilliant range of vegetarian and vegan options which were all incredible. The staff were so lovely and knowledgeable. I would highly recommend giving it a try! The falafel were perfect.

Gorgeous food and gorgeous staff! The manager is an absolute star!

We had such a wonderful experience at this restaurant. The food was amazing, including the free lentil soup which had a beautiful aromatic flavour. The lamb kebbeh was our favourite, we would have been happy to have plate after plate of this! We didn't get to experience the desserts as we were so full, however the Arabic tea was delicious.

The food was actually lovely, however the service was pretty slow given it was lunch time and there were only 4 other tables eating. The food was has was reasonably priced & tasty. The shawarmas were delicious as were the lamb chops. However I feel like the children’s menu is over priced at £10 for nuggets & chips. Also watch out for ordering lemonades & being given mocktails at a cost of £6.50.

This was a wonderful meal between 13 of us, the staff were welcoming, the restaurant was busy and the atmosphere was warm and friendly. The vegetarian fare was exceptional, and we were all very well fed. I would advise anyone going to try the lemon mint drink, I know I will be if I go again.

Best shawarma in York, prepared by the kindest people. You will not be disappointed.

Atmosphere is nice, food is average Tabbula Salad was great

First time eating here. Really enjoyed. Would recommend.

Lovely service, fantastically spiced meat and free soup!

Great restaurant, extremely tasty food. Loved all the Syrian food I could get my hands on. 1000% recommend. Service was excellent, staff was super friendly and the food was impeccable. Heavy on the meat side as expected but there is a few vegetarian/vegan options.

I had an excellent dining experience at Bab Tooma! The meat I tried was perfectly cooked, with just the right amount of seasoning. I appreciated that it wasn’t over-spiced, which allowed the natural flavors to shine through. The food was delicious and authentic, and I look forward to coming back for more.

Highly recommend the restaurant. Food it’s delicious and the staff are amazing too! Definitely coming back.

Very good and clean. Breakfast open buffet was a good idea and wasn't expensive

Wonderful breakfast in York Centre..

Chicken grill was decent but Mandi was totally disappointing. Nowhere tastes what an Actual mandi tastes like. The place is run by authentic people and it’s sad they’re not serving the authentic food. It was more of a boiled rice like a spice less biriyani.

Second time eating here and the food is great. York struggles for Middle Eastern/Turkish/Syrian but Bab Tooma ticks that box perfectly.

A lively restaurant with quick and friendly service, maybe too quick - there were no gaps between courses and it felt like a pile-up of dishes. The food is tasty, simple fayre, of a home cooked standard and the portions are large. I enjoyed the experience but don't think I would go back.

outstanding experience from start to finish. The service was excellent—staff members were attentive, prompt, and made sure every need was met with a smile. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming. The food was absolutely delicious, and beautifully presented. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a top-notch dining experience. I can't wait to return!"

This restaurant offered a memorable dining experience with its delicious, complimentary lentil soup and fresh, flavorful dishes. The sweet and humorous staff made us feel welcome and valued, adding to the overall enjoyment. I was impressed by the quality of both the food and the service and look forward to returning.

We had a beautiful experience here for lunch celebrating a friend’s birthday. The food was excellent and such friendly staff and owner. Would 100% recommend and will be returning in the future

The food was very authentic and delicious. We went there to celebrate a friends birthday and all staff were extremely helpful and we had a very good time

Really nice quality food and great service from the team

Lovely restaurant and food. Asma was really friendly and played with my little boy- he loved her!

Food was delicious, so much flavour. The complimentary Lentil soup was flavoursome! Great place to share plates. Worth a visit!

Such a lovely place, delicious food and drinks with friendly staff. Highly recommend.

Absolutely superb. We went for my birthday, from the moment we walked in to when we left, the food and service was exceptional, thanks for making my birthday a great day, highly recommend

Wow, the food was amazing. We had The Beast between the 4 of us. Followed by a selection of desserts and an Arabian tea. We will be going back at some point.

What can I say! The taste of home is in the heart of York city centre!🤩 I can't recommend the food and the place enough! I couldn't decide what to order because they had everything I wanted to have! So i ordered some hot mezze and I was NOT disappointed by any of them. I Each plate was full of authentice flavours, well prepared and presented. Oh and the freshly baked arabic bread is just another level! The waiting staff were amazingly friendly and very attentive to details. The service was quick and excellent. The interior design and the Damascus atmosphere with the Damascus doors painting and pretty glass lamps are so atmospheric! Thank you for making me feel at home! If you are ever in York city centre, Bab Tooma restaurant is a must to try!

excellent experience staff was lovely and everything was perfect

The food is excellent, the atmosphere is great, and the place is homely and helpful.

Delicious and clean food, the place is very beautiful and the service is excellent. Honestly, I am enjoying eating and I have not eaten such delicious food in a long time ♥️

Great food very friendly and good portions.

The food was great and absolutely fantastic and delicious and Ram was a lovely guy too. Helping all around I highly recommend it 🥰🥰😋

really nice restaurant and attentive manager!

So kind and welcoming, everyone is lovely and it’s a beautiful environment MashaAllah

3 lasses had a lovely meal here and spotted it by chance when passing by. Also catered for gluten free and nipped to Tesco next door for wine and no corking fee. Waiting staff very pleasant. Would highly recommend

Great service. Very accommodating, providing blankets for outdoor eating! Great tasting food and drinks.

I cannot recommend this place enough. It was our first time here and we enjoyed it thoroughly, definitely planning another visit. Very tasty, very flavourful.

Took my partner for lunch today, we had a warm welcome and were lucky enough to get the window seat. The decor is charming. We both ordered the Lamb Shank Mandi and a side of bread which was so fresh it was piping hot and still inflated! We shared a pot of Moroccan Tea. The food came quickly and was delicious, starting with a complimentary bowl of lentil soup. It all reminded me of my time in Morocco. The service was top notch. Even better when later on we realised my partner had left his wallet behind and they'd kept it safe and sound for us. I can't recommend this place highly enough, especially if you fancy something a little exotic.

On Tuesday evening We visited Bab Tooma. We ordered the Halloumi starter to share and both decided to choose the chicken Shawarma for our main course, in between courses we were brought complimentary soup. One main meal was served but not the other, we were told the other meal was on its way. We wanted to eat together and waited and waited. Eventually the second meal arrived without seasoning on the fries. A staff member apologised for the delay. Although the food was really nice and tasty the whole experience of the meal was spoilt by forgetting one of our meals. We will not be returning to Bab Tooma.

Fab food! Would recommend. Great service from Ram too!

Some of the best food I have tasted with excellent friendly service Top marks

Nice place for authentic Syrian food

We arrived here without reservations and were welcomed in. The food that our server recommended was absolutely delicious! I can’t recommend enough!

Lovely, friendly atmosphere, and the food was delicious. I would recommend .

Really beautiful food. Poor service. I appreciate they were busy but we had to wait ages for the bill. And was initially charged for two bowls of bread we didn’t receive. Over spill in front of the other shop (what appears to be a discount shop selling home wares) was fine but not ideal!

What a delight! My husband and I stumbled on this place by accident and had an absolutely outstanding meal. The ambiance service and food were all exemplary. Next time we are in York we will definitely be back.

Excellent service, exquisite food, superb atmosphere and very pleasant staff!!! Certainly will recommend!!!

Everything was perfect Meat was perfectly fine and rice was just right

First visit, excellent ! will be back

Delicious, beautiful place and friendly staff.