Zena Restaurant in Manchester

Went with a party of six and had the £30 per person set menu. Food was absolutely delicious! The grilled meats in particular were cooked superbly! Highly recommended and a lively atmosphere!

Amazing spot. Lived in Manchester for 25 years I can honestly say this is one of the best Middle Eastern restaurants I have ever been in my life. We were a party of 9 and got a 9 man platter for ease. It was nothing short of delightful. Plentiful and delicious and quick service for such amazing food. Will be back. 5* food 5*service

Julian and the rest of the staff should be proud of the service they have given us and the chefs need a pay rise.

Zena Restaurant, Didsbury – A Culinary Gem Zena Restaurant in Didsbury offers a dining experience that effortlessly blends authentic Middle Eastern flavors with exceptional service. From the moment you step inside, the warm and welcoming ambiance, accentuated by tasteful décor, sets the stage for an unforgettable meal. The menu boasts an array of traditional dishes, each prepared with fresh, high-quality ingredients. Their mezze selection, in particular, is a highlight, offering a perfect balance of vibrant spices and delicate textures. The grilled meats are cooked to perfection, tender and full of flavor, while the vegetarian options are equally well-crafted and satisfying. What truly sets Zena apart, however, is its attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction. The staff are attentive, knowledgeable, and eager to recommend dishes that suit personal preferences, ensuring a tailored and enjoyable dining experience. For those seeking an authentic taste of Middle Eastern cuisine in Didsbury, Zena Restaurant is a must-visit. Whether for a casual meal or a special occasion, it consistently delivers on both quality and service. Highly recommended.

The best Middle Eastern food in Manchester ordered the platter between 8 was more than enough. Julian the waiter was a delight

First time I went 3 months ago it was great . Last night however food was stale. Nothing freshly cooked. Had all been re heated ! Really unhappy

Excellent food. Take your own booze, so very reasonably priced.

We had the shared platter and can't praise it enough, absolutely lovely and will be back

How can you charge £15 for a chicken kebab that doesn’t come with bread, salad or rice?? Literally just couple of skewers of chicken. Want a side salad? That’ll be £6 Bread? Another £1 Sauce…? You get the idea

This restaurant is great. The food is fresh and delicious, as well as affordable! There is a great atmosphere here and the staff are incredibly friendly and accommodating. I came here for my girlfriend’s birthday dinner with some friends, and Lobna, Mo, and the rest of the staff were very helpful! Would recommend to everyone :)

Been twice in last two weeks with friends. As a Middle Eastern chap, I loved the authentic food, flavours, quantity, quality and freshness. Service was great, and atmosphere was casual and relaxing. Recommend this joint any day off the week!

Amazing experience Friendly staff

What a fab night at Zena tonight Buzzing atmosphere, fantastic tasty food , great to share with friends Brilliant value Lovely staff , they were faultless Definitely coming back

The food was excellent but our evening was ruined by six people at a table near us who were extremely loud, constantly shouting and swearing, with no apparent awareness of the impact it was having on other dinners. Sadly, despite our complaint to staff about this, they were only able to issue an appology but made no effort to ask these people to quieten down and modify their language . Unfortunately, despite the good food, we won't risk returning here. Although we expect to pay for good food, we expect to be able to enjoy it in a comfortable and ambient environment as a family.

We had a very nice meal at Zena. Most of the food was delicious. Donner kebab, though, was rather blunt, i.e., a bit dry, no herbs or spices as it used to be, therefore, 4 stars. Altogether, we had a great evening and definitely came again.

Much better than many English restaurants. Good service and welcoming staff

Well what can I say. £50 order of two mixed kebabs, Greek salad and rice. The price was a little extreme but the food is good here and it was a treat. After picking up the order and getting it home I was astonished by the lack of portions. A minuscule Greek salad that looked complimentary (£7) and a rice box that was 3/4 full (£5.50) After speaking to the manager who was really rude she told me that that’s what I get in the portions. I was gobsmacked I’ve eaten here before and the rice box is full and the salad side is twice as much. Really disappointed and won’t be going here again a total rip off. For £50 there is a a lot better available locally.

Nice place to eat mox grill easily feeds two people

Amazing customer service , great atmosphere 10/10 - the waitresses made us feel so welcome

The best place in Manchester for Levantine, if you have never ate Lebanese or Levantine food before, I recommend you eat here !! Perfect all round amazing staff, amazing food, amazing atmosphere

One of our favourite local restaurants. So much love goes in to food

After my first visit, I literally had a craving for their flatbread... DELICIOUS ~ Service was amazing on both occasions ~ the first time I went with my daughter brother and sister in law, we had a beautiful meal and I genuinely couldn't wait to return. This time I took my friend, and again had a beautiful evening ~ such a pleasant atmosphere, staff are super friendly and professional and again I can't wait to return ~ I share the same name as the Restaurant and I honestly can't rate the place enough! It's an absolute must! ... Enjoy... 🍽🍶☕️

Had a great evening, lovely food! Our server rieff was very attentive and knowledgeable, he gave us great recommendations and we had a brilliant time

Rieff was lovely and gave great recommendations! Thanks

Thank you so much to the staff, they welcomed us pretty well and they were very friendly, The meal was just fantastic, Keep up the good work 👏

We used to go when it first opened for a couple of years and thought it was good but our recent visit wasn't good as follows: BYOB - we did, two beers that cost us £2 each we got charged £2.50 each bottle for the use of the opener!! (doesn't mention charges on the website) Not Happy Food Starter; We shared a Cold Veggy Meze starter - while tasted good portion size considerably reduced and price considerably increased - Not Happy Mains: The Veggy Mains was a bowl of brown thin liquid with some aubergine floating around in it, the other veg in it as stated on the menu were missing- Not Happy At All (A friend had a meat mains that was ok) Overall a disappointing experience, don't think we will be returning

Excellent food and customer service. Strongly recommend

Family lunchtime birthday so a biggish party of 11 people. Food and service were exemplary. Shish kebab and Arabian salad delicious. Other food looked good too. Recommended.

Amazing place and tastes very authentic. If you're going on a weekend, it's better to book in advance as it will be packed. Prices are on the higher end compared to similar places in Manchester.

Excellent food, came really quick and enjoyed the environment also. Would recommend/go again :)

Amazing food and great value!! Our server moheimin was brilliant and attentive

Always love eating here, food incredible as ever and service to match. Zara was lovely and very attentive. Would definitely recommend & will be back!!!!

Excellent service and friendly staff. Reiff made sure we were well looked after and our compliments to the chefs. Would highly recommend Zena.

We were 2 couples who were celebrating a birthday and enjoyed a deeeelicious meal ! Chicken livers , baby chicken , lamb chops ,hummus,salads etc etc Flawless & delivered with a smile by our fabulous waitress Mercedes ( Merci ) Thank you soooo much We,ll be back again soon ! Best regards Mick X

Positively surprised! Very authentic taste! Trues the fattouche, hummus and mixed grills and shish kebab…just perfect! Must try

Demented workers and ill treatment

The Minimum charge now £25 in the week and £30 on Friday and at the weekend! Shocking. The BYOB policy does not really make this OK.

Amazing food and service, reasonably priced with a great selection. We ordered a selection of hot and cold starters (the mushroom dish was a highlight, but everything was delicious) and realised our eyes were bigger than our bellies (the photo taken is only half of what we ordered)! BYOB for a small charge. Will definitely visit again!

Great service from Ed, great range of veggie options would definitely come back!

Had a lovely evening. Served by Ed who had great recommendations of the best dishes. Good veggie options too. Would definitely come back

Amazing food! We absolutely love it here, and come back time and time again. Reasonable prices, great portions and quality. Would recommend for any occasion. Thank you!

I came to Zena with my friends for the first weekend of 2024. Was an amazing experience. Beautiful food, lovely staff, would definitely recommend. Will be returning.

Lovely staff and amazing food. Shoutout to Rieff

Great food, generous portions, attentive staff

Lamp chops are to die for!!!! Great service from Zara and her team

Zara was lovely ! Food was delicious, really recommend this place

Friendly and cosy environment Zara was great and very kind

The place was nice and the staff were lovely but we felt like we were being rushed to eat soon after we finished our meal. I wish I knew how the food served as I ordered the chicken kebab. It came by itself with no salad/hummus so had to order more food.

The best Middle Eastern food I’ve had in Manchester! Absolutely delicious, reasonably priced, and the atmosphere of the place is lovely. I’d 100% recommend eating here.

Parts of the menu are really expensive. My wife asked for some yoghurt as her main course was a little dry, which was provided, but we were charged nearly £6 for it. Must have cost them about 20p to provide. Also, rice is approx £5 for a tiny dish. Be really careful what you order as you could get totally ripped off like we were. £11 for rice and yoghurt!?! The menu online is out of date too as the prices are higher when you get the bill.

Fantastic night with friends. Even better food. Thanks to all the staff.

Excellent food and service great restaurant with a buzzing vibe.

Best Middle Eastern food in MCR so far :)

They served sheep instead of lamb! Meat was proper grizzly and chewy. How can you advertise lamb and instead serve sheep? Shame on you for your dishonesty. I should getting trading standards involved. Sheep is significantly cheaper than lamb, stop being so cheap and dishonest!

Very nice place to eat always a great atmosphere with amazing food

Been here a couple of times. Food was fantastic and service was great. Even down to helping me get a comfy chair for my back! Will be back again!

Incredible food and service, definitely recommend!

Myself and two of my friends visited this place today and we really enjoyed the atmosphere and food, the food was delicious and the staff were super friendly, I am coming back here with my family soon, if you have the chance please visit, highly recommended.

We were a little hesitant when we came in as the restaurant was empty but we are so glad we did. The food was absolutely delicious - the Arabic salad, mujadara rice and the falafel were perfect and so flavourful. The portions were generous and the staff lovely. A Didsbury gem ⭐️

Best Lebanese in Manchester! Superb all round.

could not recommend this restaurant enough! delicious food met with a lovely atmosphere and welcoming staff. the mixed grill was amazing, as well as the vine leaves which i had never tried before. I will definitely be coming back here again 😁

i’ve been coming here since they opened and never once been disappointed!! always served hot, flavourful food by the smiliest servers. recommending this restaurant to everyone amazing atmosphere and owners :))🥰

This Restaurant is now my new favourite!! the chicken was delicious and the service was very good as well

This place is unbelievable!! I have ate in restaurants all over the world and Zena is always one I return to on a regular basis. The food is always fresh, consistent and amazing. Staff second to none. One of the best restaurants in Manchester and great valve (I’ve tried most of them) See you in a few weeks :)

It's a lovely place to eat. Lovely staff and atmosphere. Warning that it's BYO with a tiny corkage charge if you want beer or wine. It's great.

I once picked up a delivery from this restaurant. The kitchen was so dirty

I. Love. This. Restaurant. 😫 I'll never stop ordering from this place, the food is exquisite 🤌 Amazing as always, highly recommend. 💯

It’s always a great experience at Zena. The staff know about the food and very helpful. The food is some of the best Lebanese I’ve had. Really nice place

Very good food & service. I love the place Very tasty halal food

Pleasant atmosphere and food tasty but we ordered the set menu and realised 3 items listed has been missed off. When I asked for these one was brought. When I asked again we were told a chef was off so we would not get these items. I was disappointed they didn't explain in the first place, clearly hoping we didn't notice. I asked for money off

This place came highly recommended but it ended up being a huge disappointment. We booked for Friday evening 8:30pm, 4 people. We arrived at 8:20pm and had to wait until 8:40pm to be seated. We were handed the menus straight away and asked to order quickly because the kitchen was closing at 9:15pm! We rushed out orders and ended up with both starters and mains arriving at the table at the same time... The food was OK but hardly excellent (my shawarma had very far pieces of overcooked lamb, and hardly any onions or peppers as Dec m described in the menu...). We were then rushed to leave the place "because the staff are students and need to leave at 10pm"... Even asked to take boxes to finish eating later for whatever we hadn't finished eating yet, despite the fact we were clearly still eating! When we asked the manager about this on leaving, she said that it was our fault because we were late (we clearly weren't) and that we asked for both starters and mains to be delivered together (we did not). Nor apologetic at all, but trying to blame us for the poor experience. They're clearly trying to maximise profit by hiring students at low rates and trying to fit as many bookings as possible in an evening, even if it means treating customers like this. I guess others might have better experiences outside of busy Fridays and weekends, but we didn't and were not going back there.

Everything we tried was absolutely fabulous! Great staff. Reasonable prices.

What a little gem! We overall enjoyed our experience. The main courses were delicious and the portions were good size. My husband enjoyed his starter a lot. I didn't so much mine. I had prawns and the shell was not removed completely. Some of my prawns were still in full shell minus the legs and the head. I still enjoyed it though just a bit disappointed. Everything else was outstanding. We will definitely be returning.

لديكم نادله قليلات اتب ولم تكن محترمه عند ما قمتم في تضويفه لم ترو أنه ابنت شوارع

Love it in here. Kebab is delicious, I always share the mixed one. BYOB is always a bonus. Note there is a small corkage fee.

Very good Middle Eastern food, freshly cooked and great choice. Well priced too.

Very expensive, we are regular customers but I didn’t come in for awhile and when i came in a few days ago we found out that the prices has been changed and now it is very expensive:(

Ambiente agradável!! Comida um pouco sem sabor!

Gayet güzel bir tel.personeli çok ilgili ve güler yüzlü ,havuz çok temiz kemere geleceklere öneririm kesinlikle ,yemekler çok iyi özellikle kahvaltı .odamız hem temiz hem kara manzaralı olması bizi çok mutlu etti

Wonderful place, excellent food and nice staff

£30 mezze per person is good value.

The food is stunning, the service can be a little slow at times but it is worth the wait and the atmosphere can be loud (try to sit at the front if you can). But if you are coming to Zena your coming for the food and it is stand out, I have dined in and ordered out too, my preference is dining in but both work well. You can bring your own Booze if you so wish. I have come here on multiple occasions and the food is just wonderful. I would just order as many small dishes. As you possibly could think that you might be able to eat with you and your friends. As mezze food goes I would honestly say staying within the confines of the cold and hot starters is the place to be, although I have also shared the mixed grill a couple of times when ordering in. The Babaghanouj is the best I have had in Manchester, I have been known to make sure i get the lions share of this on the fresh pitta as it makes me so happy. The food is the star here it is so good, and when sharing really works out at good value, I generally believe you can't go wrong, ordering pretty much anything of the menu here.

What a lovely restaurant with a great atmosphere 😍 I would highly recommend Zena Restaurant

What a fabulous experience, great room, lighting, table space, comfort, layout, service, staff numbers, speed of service, menu, and the food OMG, the food! Simply outstanding! As experienced home cooks with fairly high standards we rarely find a restaurant that ticks all the boxes, where we feel that there is unique flavour, high quality, level of ‘healthiness’ to the meals etc. at Zena it delivered in all fronts and being BYO, we were able to drink some great beers and some lovely wine that we brought with us! Even the glasses provided were great! Will have no hesitation rebooking and would recommend highly. Middle Eastern food served this beautifully is a must have! Well done Zena! Greg

We had the kibbe, chicken bourak, fatteh Zena and the mousaka with rice and flatbreads. Everything was cooked to perfection absolutely delicious 5* ! And you can take your own wine

I must say I don’t write reviews however I had to about this place! I ate here with my Middle Eastern family and we all enjoyed the authentic meal, the staff are really friendly and attentive and happy to help us, I would say my father is incredibly picky with his food however was left speechless and had nothing bad to say! Overall brilliant food and atmosphere will definitely return and recommend. Glad I found this place :)

Food was amazing , very tasteful all the right flavours . Great value of money . Restaurant is a great location , easy to get to . Staff were very friendly , helpful talkative and smiley . I had the chicken wings with a side of rice and Arabic salad - was very delicious. Would definitely recommend coming here :)

We rang Zena's on a busy bank Holiday, and they managed to squeeze 11 of us in with no bother. And we were glad they did! The food was absolutely fantastic and the staff were brilliant!! Would highly recommend. We will be back. Thank you.

Beware ordering online. They add a tip to your bill without authority and without telling you. Such a shame to spoil an otherwise good experience. Also, there is no waiter in an online order, so this is just free money, or theft, as I like to call it. Not happy.

Food is lovely with a fantastic choice. Generous portions so do not overorder! Staff friendly Reasonable price Bring your own wine

Amazing good atmosphere and service LOVED IT really good lenanese food can tell the authenticity through the flavours I will definitely be back and recommend to my friends and family

Food was mostly nice, vegetarian mains leave a bit to be desired, but lamb was good and cold meze starter was great. BYOB with £2.50 corkage per person no matter how many drinks you bring so that's great, staff were friendly enough although would love if they were a lil more attentive and didn't clear plates midway through the meal without asking first. Overall nice but bit expensive in comparison to some other restaurants of this style - Didsbury for you, though.

Awful service and staff more interested in talking to each other and have no sense of time. Food pricey.

My favourite Levantine restaurant in Manchester

Very poor service and food came out very slowly and overpriced. I wouldn't recommend at to anyone to be honest.

I cam with my older brother. I had the best shawarma that I have ever had

We had a take away from here. Lovely service, provided me wifi and a seat while I’m waiting. Looks like a nice place for a night out. Food wasn’t impressive, overpriced for a take away.

The food is the saving grace of this place, delicious and authentic. However the service is really disappointing with waitresses grabbing plates over your shoulder while eating your meal and she was confrontational during taking orders when a simple mistake was made.

Excellent food and service. Will go again.

First visit to Zena and the food was amazing. Great value and such wonderful food. You can bring you own alcohol but charged for corkage. But would recommend a visit.