Birthday dinner vibes at Sham in Worcester. My amazing friends spoiled me with a feast & it did not…read moredisappoint! We kicked things off with the trio of dips -- beet hummus, classic hummus, & baba ganoush -- all silky smooth perfection. Then came the kibbeh & the crispiest wings ever. For mains, we dove into the chicken shawarma wrap & the Sham mixed grill with rice -- juicy, flavorful, & worth every bite. Of course, no celebration is complete without something sweet, dessert was hareese and kunafe. From start to finish, everything was bursting with flavor & the service made it feel extra special. Worcester foodies, this spot is a must-try!

i ordered takeout from here based on reviews online, and it's by far one of my top favorite…read morerestaurants in massachusetts already. when i came in to pick up, i wished that i had came here to eat. the restaurant is gorgeous on the inside, with a casual atmosphere upstairs, and formal downstairs. Mo, who helped me with pickup, is exceptionally hospitable, friendly and kind. i ordered the mixed grill feast plate with extra chicken, rice, salad, onions + parsley, three pieces of falafel, plus white sauce, garlic sauce, and fresh tzatziki. the meal is so deliciously fragrant, with the rice smelling and tasting so nutty and sweet, and the meats & falafel seasoned and cooked to perfection. all of the seasonings tasted as if there were 500 flavors packed in and balancing each other in harmony. their sauces were all super fresh; a standard serving is enough but i wish i ordered extra just because. you don't actually need any sauces with how flavorful everything is, though. everything is seriously impressive. mixed grill feast plate 10/10 salad 10/10 falafel 10/10 sauces 10/10 i can't describe this meal as anything other than perfect, no exaggeration. i will definitely return, to eat in or for takeout. special thanks to the amazing reviews that convinced me to try sham restaurant, they are accurate and their food really is *that* good. i can't recommend sham restaurant enough! ambiance: 5/5 food: 6/5 drinks: n/a service: 6/5 sham restaurant: 5/5

First time visitor and YUM! We had the beef-lamb shawarma and the chicken shawarma and damn do the…read moreflavors pop! So juicy and tasty then you add the garlic sauce and it's out of this world. Super nice people too. Highly recommended.

Stopped by for a quick treat and ended up leaving with more than i planned. Everything looked…read moreamazing and tasted just as good:)

Located in the plaza of Bob's Discount Furniture in Worcester, the Golden House Grill is an oasis…read morethat is worth discovering. It is possible that the ambiance will cause you to halt when you first come in because it is somewhat humble and bare-bones, but you should not let this discourage you. The service is always attentive and courteous, and there is plenty of space available, particularly to accommodate families near the front of the establishment. Despite the fact that it took some time to make, the chicken mandi that I ordered was served scorching hot, fresh, and well worth the wait. The chicken mandi is made with halal meat. I added some heat to it by using the sauces and spicy sauce that were provided, which really brought out the true tastes of the dish. Do not pass up the opportunity to indulge in genuine Middle Eastern cuisine in Worcester; this restaurant is not to be missed!

Food was amazing! We had the lamb kebobs. The lamb was so tender and delicious. The sides of…read morehummus, salad, rice all stood on their own as excellent. Portions are large. The space is very cool. We stumbled upon this place on a road trip. Highly recommend!

First of all, the shawarma is pretty good! It was juicy and the chicken and the beef were tasty. He…read moreallowed me to taste both the meat before placing the order it was exactly how a shawarma would taste. It was saucy and crispy all at the same time and the flavors just mixed in really well The owner of the restaurant is really friendly and even provided me with some baklava's at the end. I forgot to get my receipt and the owner was kind enough to just send it over to me next day after a phone call. Really top notch customer service in that aspect. They've been in the block for 7 years now and I can see why. The ratings on this place definitely did not disappoint. Suggestions would be to have provide fries or even have the option of fries.

We stopped by for lunch and got a chicken and beef plate and a wrap. You can tell this food is made…read morewith love and is fresh and healthy. It is not the most flavorful of this kind of food we've had, but it was satisfying. We also got some baklava which was pretty good. Service was also friendly.

Halal Mediterranean restaurant with street parking only. I had a mix platter with kofta and bbq…read morechicken. Food was decent and plentiful. It was enough for two meals. The salad was fresh and refreshing. Definitely use the garlic sauce on the meats.

Excellent middle eastern food at reasonable prices! I ordered takeout from here on a Saturday…read morenight. The food was ready in just 15 minutes. I ordered the chicken shawarma plate. The portions are generous and will leave you full! The quality of the food is noticeable not to mention the flavor in each ingredient. Not really a place to dine in though they do have some tables/seating, but I'll definitely be ordering take out from here again!

We love Afia's kitchen. Their hummus is delicious! We often get their falafel platter, and it's big…read moreenough for two people. Some things we love are their grape leaves and their rice and meatballs. We get their food at least once a week. The woman at the stand is always so kind and welcoming. The place is clean and gloves are always used when handling food. I highly recommend you try this place for some delicious middle eastern food!

Delicious meal! The stuffed grape leaves, baba ganoush and hummus were exceptional. So excited this…read morerestaurant opened in Worcester Public Market. Can't wait to go back.

One of the most authentic and tasty places. They are truly Iraqi style fast food and cuisine. What…read morethat means is that the concept of Mediterranean cuisine is a universal flavor or style. Each nation has their own way of creating amazing dishes and this place knocks it out of the ball park when it comes to Iraqi Mediterranean food. The bread is made fresh, everything is cooked on the spot and sometime they do run out of stuff, that's how good this place is!

I would avoid this place for it being unclean. Wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Before walking I…read moregot a bad feeling about eating there, I walked in and instantly lost my appetite due to uncleanliness. So I had to walk out.

The ingredients tasted fresh and everything looked well prepared. I also appreciated how welcoming…read morethe staff were when we came in. You can tell they care about the food and customer experience. Great place for a quick breakfast or brunch with friends.

Quality is terrible. This place used to be called baystate shawarma it was sold in early 2025 and…read moreit's awful. The flavors of the meats & rice are bland I'll never go back.

I've been going to El Basha for over three decades. They have expanded to many locations now, but…read morethe Belmont Street location is still my favorite. The space had a huge upgrade over the years, but it's still a warm, family-run restaurant with great service and delicious food. The menu is extensive, but there are a few dishes I keep coming back to. The fassoulia is comforting and flavorful, the falafel is perfectly crisp on the outside and soft inside, and the chicken port saiid (sautéed with mushrooms in a bright garlic lemon sauce) is a standout. Everything tastes fresh and thoughtfully prepared; it has that homestyle touch you don't find elsewhere. Then there is the dessert... the pistachio baklava is truly something special. Knowing it's still made by the family's matriarch makes it even better, and you can taste the tradition in every bite. If you're looking for authentic, consistently great, Lebanese food with a personal touch, El Basha is a staple that never disappoints.

Worcester Restaurant Week is wrapping up, so we headed to El Basha - Worcester, MA on Route 9. We…read morebegan with hummus & lamb sambusik. He chose the $29.95 deal, featuring a Greek salad & beef port saiid, while I had a salad with kofta. The rice pudding dessert was delightful. Great food & service from Natalie!

Highland street location: 1. Tried one of the summer…read morespecials "tiramisu latte" with oatmilk and it was delicious and a reasonable price ($7.55). 2. Great gluten-free options. I tried the gluten free chocolate chip cookie and it was a good portion, soft and had lots of chocolate chips, also at a reasonable price ($4.82) 3. Very friendly staff and lots of options for both drinks and food 4. Lots of seating and has a bar to add in any sugar or toppings on your drink. Great place to study or sit on your laptop! 5. Parking was a little tricky as you can only park on one side of the street but didn't take long to get a spot right in front of the cafe!

Inviting space with a long showcase of treats in several categories, plenty of roomy tables, and a…read morelarge communal table. -- Muffins: I consider their blueberry muffin one of my favorites in Massachusetts, if not my #1. It's got just the right mix of bounce, density, and butteriness, without being too greasy. Big, fresh blueberries (not the shriveled kind). Plenty of crumbly streusel on top for extra taste and texture. Their mixed berry has multiple fruit presence and more of it, minus the streusel. Also very good. Sometimes the muffins are warm. Sometimes a little long in the tooth. -- Cakes: That's their claim to fame, and for good reason. They're more expensive than most, but so dense, rich, and heavy that a small slice goes a long way. My favorite is the chocolate raspberry decadence (pool of raspberry atop a deep, dark chocolate frosting). Or maybe the strawberry snowflake, which is like the best strawberry shortcake you ever had. -- Cupcakes: These often feature some of the same ingredients as the cakes, such as that killer chocolate ganache. Great for the toppings and fillings, though the cake part (especially if chocolate base) is often dry. -- Cookies: Noticeably less impressive, EXCEPT for the Linzer heart. Great flavor and texture in the raspberry and shortbread. -- Coffee: Good stuff. Not elite, but good, in heavy mugs with good feel. Service is a little lacking. Not so much because of rudeness, but because they're perpetually understaffed for the amount of business they do.