Amazing food with large portions. We get the mix grill. The Shish Kafta is AMAZING!!

Very quiet atmosphere, very friendly and helpful waitstaff, huge portions, great tasting food and typical price range. The steak kabob was grissley on one end and left unchewable on the plate. That can happen occasionally. It was our first time here, and we'll be back. read more

Let me start by saying this restaurant came highly recommended by several friends. My boyfriend and I went on a Saturday night, and right away I was disappointed they closed at 8 PM. I feel that's early for a Saturday night. In any event, we went to the strip mall where it's located, near the intersection of Monroe Street and Alexis Road. On a positive note, there is definitely plenty of parking. We walked in and there was no host or hostess to greet us. We waited a few moments then a busy server ( who appeared to be the only one at the time) came and quickly sat at a booth. She dropped the menus on the table and left without saying a word. Approximately 10 minutes later, the same girl came back. She asked if she could get us a drink and if we wanted to order some appetizers. It would've been nice if she told us her name or asked if this was our first time at the establishment, but neither happened. We each ordered a glass of wine and then my boyfriend inquired about their "uncorking fee". The young woman looked bewildered and instead of asking what that meant, she chose to defensively tell us with her eyes squinted and head cocked to the side, "Nobody has ever asked me that before." We explained that at some restaurants, allow you to bring in your own bottle and charge an uncorking fee- just so she understood the question. She stood there and blankly looked back at us. After a short pause, she offered to ask the restaurant's policy.My boyfriend said yes please do; we wanted to know for future reference. (We had already ordered a glass for tonight's meal.) Before she left the table, I asked about their grape leaves; we ended up ordering those as well. While we were waiting for that, a different employee from the kitchen, came up and greeted the table behind us. She obviously knew the people and sat down and spoke with them, then took their order. It's important to mention that this cook had gloves on. While having the same gloves on, I noticed her grab not only the back of a chair at a different table, she also grabbed a railing that separates the tables from the booths, then walked behind the bar and poured glasses of wine. I was surprised that someone from the back of the house/kitchen would even wear gloves out in the dining area; let alone touch and perform tasks. To be completely clear, I was worried. I could only hope she took those dirty gloves off before she started preparing food again. We weren't off to a very good start. Wait times were longer than I expected, I say this mostly because there were only five tables taken in the entire restaurant, and we were one of them. Having said that, the table behind us, the one where the cook had her gloves on, got their food. Happy to share that this time the cook did not have gloves on when she brought the entrées out to their table. Our appetizers arrived shortly thereafter, and I was surprised to see eight super skinny grape leaves. (They were no bigger than the diameter of my pinky finger.Understand I'm used to the delicious grape leaves at Byblos and The Grape Leaf.) In all fairness, although they were skinny, they were very tasty. When our entrées arrived, the server explained the kitchen had made a mistake with our sides, but to rectify the situation they sent us an extra order of steak fries. Since it was no big deal to us, we thanked them for the gesture. The two entrées we selected were Sish Kafta and a sliced chicken breast dish that came on a bed of hummus. After reading reviews prior to our visit, my expectations for the hummus was pretty high. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. Again although very tasty, it was very thin. They call it "creamy", and it is; GREAT flavor, but just very thin. Again, I'm comparing it to Byblos, Sidon, and the Grape Leaf. The side of rice that came on the shish kafta plate was cold. Both entrées were flavorful, but we're small portions. Especially the chicken entree; not a very good value for the price. When I'm paying over $20 for an entrée of chicken, I expect that I at least get half a breast. I probably had 10-12 pieces that were baby bite-size or smaller; no way was that even a half of a full breast. Our server never asked if we wanted another glass of wine or more water. She did ask if we wanted dessert, we declined. At the end of our experience, I asked her her name. I thought she would've picked up that she never told us, but again she was young and clueless. It amazes me how people in the service industry don't want to work for their tip. I can suffice it to say we will not be going back to Damascene Grill. Overall, the food was mediocre, and the service was poor. When we want Mediterranean cuisine, we will continue to support the tried and true delicious dining experience that we consistently have at Byblos. read more

This hidden gem in Sylvania should not be such a secret! Delicious food no matter what you get. Always prepared exactly how you expect it to be. Great portions and well worth the price. The servers are super friendly and on top of things. Even the restaurant itself has a wonderful atmosphere. I'd love to see this place pick up more customers, so worth it! read more

Super good food! The picnic chicken was fabulous! The hummus is great as well. Recommend! read more

Best middle eastern restaurant in town! Fresh authentic food. I usually get it to go there tahini sauce is excellent.

4.25 This restaurant is situated in a rather "has-been" strip mall at the corner of Alexis and Monroe, technically in Sylvania but don't picture it on Main Street in Sylvania. On the positive side, however, there is plenty of easy parking as many businesses in this strip mall are no longer open. There is a laser tag/game type of business still remaining as well as a Bingo Hall. This elegant restaurant just doesn't seem to fit in this location, but wanted to try it based on so many positive reviews. Upon entering the restaurant, it is very pleasant, sophisticated, and clean, with hardwood floors and appropriate decor. For seating, there is a choice of booths or tables. I was there on a Friday night and there was no need for a reservation, though many tables and booths were taken. On a Friday night, I was surprised that the restaurant is only open until 8pm. I would say that the clientele is mostly a mature crowd. Now I was there too, so just saying it's not a late night establishment. However, it's a very pleasant and comfortable place to enjoy a delicious Syrian/Mediterranean dinner. We each started off with a margarita, which was nothing to complain about nor rave about- except that the price was very reasonable ($5/drink). Our server, one of the daughters of the original owners, was very pleasant and attentive. In addition, she offered honest opinions when asked about entrees. I inquired about the Chicken Shawarma or Tawook and ended up ordering the Picnic Chicken based on her recommendation. She definitely knew the best selections and I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. My friend knew exactly what she wanted and our server didn't attempt to change her mind. My friend's entree came with a salad (not sure why mine didn't) and it looked fine though not amazing. She didn't finish it and chose not to take it home with her leftovers. I ordered a small side of hummus, which was very good. However, the hummus came in its own bowl without extra pita bread- though complimentary pita and butter packets were served in a plastic baggie upon being seated. I think the presentation could have been better- maybe putting it in a basket or even on a plate, but the pita itself was very light and delicious. The hummus was creamy and likewise delicious. Loved my picnic chicken, which came with a choice of steak fries or rice with green beans. I opted for the latter and found that it perfectly accompanied my meal. It also came with a delicious side of garlic sauce, which was great with my meal though I still taste it in my mouth hours later! My friend also commented on how delicious the rice was, though I'm not sure if garlic sauce was part of her beef kebab meal. Overall, I definitely recommend this restaurant based upon its food and value for your money. I would also recommend carryout. The only reason I deducted a 3/4 star is because it didn't feel like a 5-star dining experience. The food was excellent and I would definitely return, but I didn't have a special "dining out" feeling based on the location of the restaurant and it lacked a certain energy that you might feel in a restaurant that is open later and is more bustling on a Friday night. However, it is a very nice ambiance in which to converse. My friend and I had a delicious meal and an enjoyable experience that I highly recommend! Also looking forward to leftovers tomorrow thanks to the generous portions! read more

Fresh salad...... Barradas best. I love how they put in fresh orange and red peppers. Chicken was so good. I feel lucky to have this clean restaurant with such fresh food in my area read more

Everything here is delicious. I've never had a bad experience. Lama is great. Will be back often. read more

Damascene Grill - Middle Eastern Near Me - Sylvania, Ohio

Delicious! The three of us loved our entrees. Had the cheese bread as an appetizer on the suggestion of our waitress. Really good/stuffed with feta and tomatoes and served hot. Hubby had a combo entree with kafta, kibbi and more. I had the Granny's fave, beef tips with onions, mushrooms and green peppers in a red wine sauce. Son had a dish with chicken fixed in different ways. All of us had the rice/really good. We will be back! Pics were taken after we already dug in for a few bites. read more

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My wife and I were welcomed into the dining room with no reservations needed by their attentive wait staff.. I believe great customer service sets the tone for a nice dinner experience. read more

Great little family owned restaurant in Sylvania. Went there with friends and was pleasantly surprised. The food quality and flavor were amazing. The food portions were generous and the value was good. Our waitress was great. She gave us really good recommendations and had a great attitude and personality. Give this place a try. I don't think you will be disappointed. We will definitely be back. I hope others support this place. read more

Our waitress was super friendly and helpful. Every suggestion she made was better than the last!

First time here - it was really good! We both loved our dishes. The green beans are complimentary. We will definitely be back. read more

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We love this place. Amazing food! Great service. Great staff! Wonderful margs. We truly love it here! read more

Some of the best ethnic cuisine in Ohio is found in the suburbs (I'd venture to say most). Damascene is no different, and I'm jealous Sylvania/Toledo gets to have this stuff on the regular. Of course, we found this place via Yelp! The usual, suburban strip-mall location, which unfolds into a large space that is beautifully decorated but casual enough to have TVs. Staff were friendly on greeting and seating, and our server was also friendly and welcoming. The food here was excellent, worth the price for the amount and quality. We were here with our college-age nephew he was excited to have nearly two meals worth of leftovers. ANYWAY. We ordered the feta dip for an appetizer, then lots of meat for our entrees. Shish Tawook, Chicken Kababs, and the Lamb Shank. So. much. food. omg. The prices are super-good for the (huge) amount of food you get. Everything was grilled to perfect doneness, and the lamb was tender and flavorful. Definitely make the drive over and try this place. You will be happy you did. read more

Damascene Grill - Feta dip. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Sylvania, Ohio

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Lunch was Chicken Schwarma - green beans and rice all for $7 it was deliciously prepared to go. Their was so much food I could have shared it easily. The chicken was tender and spiced perfectly, their was also bread. Midnight snack will be yummy this evening!! read more

The best food ever! I have been a customer for over 30 years. It did change its name but same great food! The best and the server was wonderful. I didn't get to take any pictures because I had left my phone in the car. I visited the restaurant a month ago :) read more

Wonderful! I went with a group of women. We all loved our meals. It's quiet too, so we could talk! I'm anxious to take my husband there.

Was driving thru Toledo and was craving Mediterranean/Middle Eastern. Best decision I've made to stop into Damascene as I travel half the year for my job and I rely on Yelp. Family owned place. I sat at the bar and the the lady that served and the manager that talked with me are just awesome people. I ordered the chicken shawarma fatoush salad. The portions are massive but the food is even better. The chicken was seasoned perfectly. So so good and I highly recommend it. For dessert, I went for the rice pudding with ground pistachio on top. It wasn't super sweet but it was just incredible. Can't wait to roll back thru Toledo to Rey this place and take my wife. Very unassuming location but authentic food makes it worth it all. Not expensive either. Two thumbs up! read more

Stellar food and service. We chose this place on a whim (we live 2 hours away), and we're already talking about our next trip to this restaurant. There was no component of our meals that wasn't delicious and savory. Highly recommend! read more

Amazing food and service. Visited this based on Yelp reviews and OMG is it amazing. Everything home made and amazing service. read more

Damascene Grill - Middle Eastern Near Me - Sylvania, Ohio

Was in Toledo in business and decided to stop in and try this place out. I'm glad that I did! The food was delicious and the restaurant was surprisingly nice given the strip mall that it is in. I had a bit of a sampler platter and it was a great variety and very delicious. Definitely will be back when I'm in that area. read more

The Barada with chicken and Lamb is fresh and delicious and tasty the Barada is fatoush salad served with chicken or lamb the dressing is awesome not oily this is a family owned business tucked away in a shopping center use to called Barada they are from syria the hunmmous is creamy and very tasty read more

Damascene Grill - Forgot to take a photo was so hungry - Middle Eastern Near Me - Sylvania, Ohio

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Excellent Mediterranean food. Got their house special, damascene dip, iced tea, and the espresso custard desert. Damascene dip is a must - it's a spicy feta / pesto dip that has great flavor. It is unlike other dips I've had in past. It's $9 but worth every penny. House special is solid. Chicken with peppers, mushroom, rice - and ask for the green beans, as it's complimentary. For dinner, it ran $16. Slightly pricy, but still delicious. I want to try something else in the future but it's very tasty and you can't go wrong with it. During lunch, it's $10. Good value. The custard desert was amazing! I highly recommend the place. It's easily accessible off of 23. It will be a stopping spot for me in my future travels! read more

The food is absolutely wonderful! Their chicken is the best. There's no better tasting hummus anywhere. Every meal is cooked to order. Their salads are always fresh. The woman who serves can describe each meal in great detail. This is a hidden treasure In Sylvania read more

Excellent food and friendly service - reasonably priced (smaller portions than some of the other Mediterranean restaurants in the area). Smaller dining area than others - very quiet and intimate. Served by one of the proprietors who provided great advice of the food choices. read more

We were visiting family & I'm celiac, so struggle to find places that are "safe" to eat. We stopped in to ask if they could accommodate someone gluten free & they said they could. Our server was very helpful checking with chef & recommending items. The entire staff went out of their way to make it GF for me & a nice meal for all of us. The food was delicious & the atmosphere is intimate & relaxed. Highly recommend. read more

This place has excellent service and is authentic Syrian Middle Eastern food including kibbeh naya and all of your favorites. It's a total hidden gem. Family run! read more

We really liked this place. The food was very good and the portions are large. The service was a little slow but that is because they are short handed. Hopefully they are able to fill the positions that they are hiring for. They were also very appreciative for the patronage! Keep it up Damascene Grill!! read more

Amazing place! Excellent service! I was impressed with the selection and the attentiveness of the staff. I will Defiantly be back.

Warm service, delicious food. I was in on a Wednesday night, and there was only one other table occupied. Running a restaurant is a tough business, and this feels like a family affair based on who I saw working. These are the types of places that I really want to thrive, as they still deliver a personal experience with really good food, albeit in a somewhat spartan atmosphere. As far as the food, the hummus was phenomenal, some of the best I have tasted. The Syrian salad was also great - fresh, well prepared, well dressed. C'mon Toledo, let's go Mediterranean and support this place! read more

This is the best mediterranean food in Toledo! Fresh, healthy and homemade. We loved the falafel and chicken shwarma. Family owned and super friendly. Lama was so helpful and kind. Looking around you can see it would be great for groups and families. I would ask for a booth if on a romantic night out. We will be back! read more

Enkoyed a nice meal with son and his new girlfriend. We spilt a salad and had our own entrees and everyone gave them great reviews! Will return read more

My husband and I were looking for a new restaurant to try so we looked on Yelp for reviews. Damascene had five star reviews so we decided to give them a try. We are so happy we did. The food was amazing, the portions were generous, and the prices were good! My husband loves kibbi and he said this was comparable if not better to what he's had overseas. We've eaten at many of the local Mediterranean restaurants and Damascene is number one in our opinion. This restaurant is a hidden gem. Everyone should be talking about this place! read more

Great friendly service, delicious house salad and grape leaves! Plus I love being able to order a glass of wine or cocktail with my Mediterranean dinner. Will definitely be back! So fresh with ambiance too! read more

We decided to go to Damascene Grill because of it's 5 star ratings. Unfortunately the food just wasn't that good. The atmosphere was nice and the server was attentive but the food was just ok. The hummus was creamy but lacking in flavor. The salad was a generous serving but the chicken was dry. My friend ordered a steak kabob and said that it was also just ok. The green beans were like canned green beans and tomatoes mixed together. read more

Very impressed with my first visit Everyone was very helpful and nice Had hummus grape leaves rice and spinach pie all were delicious Menu has lots of dinners that I will be back for read more

The best Arabic food ever I recommend getting one of the chef specials.. great service great food good portions.

Great service. Great food. This is the Old Beretta's, it moved. Lamb chicken and salads are out of this world. The spinach pie is what you have to order. The fatuous his what you want as leftovers for your lunch the next day. Excellent bartender and great people. read more

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