Al Salam Restaurant

I just ate a mixed grill and the two kabobs were very good. The other two, chicken kefta lacked salt. The service was extremely slow and lacked attention. I won’t come back. The food even came out cold. This place used to be very good.

It’s very authentic Middle Eastern food: can’t get any closer to traditional Middle Eastern cooking than this. They do however have some variations in their menu, such as french fries and some other Americanized menu items, but it’s still good!
Their rice is too dry for my liking, but I love their meat and chicken kabobs! Their meat kabobs are tender, juicy, and piping hot when they bring them out. They are a tad spicy (which I don’t like as much), but they are still very delicious. They also serve their kabobs with this creamy garlic sauce that is insanely delicious when you put it on the meat since it offers a refreshing, cool bite to the otherwise piping hot kabob. The place is somewhat expensive, though their food is very, very good! Will come again!

We loved Al Salam It was a little hard to find, it’s located behind the CVS so when your driving on University you have to turn at the CVS!
The food was delicious, the tea was fabulous and the staff is very welcoming and attentive!!!
We will definitely be back!

I usually don’t write bad reviews but I really have to this time. Very poor service!!!
This is the 2^nd time I experienced it and never going back there.
We were a big group and we requested the waiter to write the order down so he doesn’t messup but he kept refusing. Anyways we gave the order and guess what. He did messed up the order and then accused us of ordering that when we were very clear on what we had ordered.
For so many people he brought just one small plate of salad. Really!!! We asked for more so he took that plate and split into two. WOW!
Then during dinner we asked for napkins and he brought 2 napkins. Really!!! We asked for more so he brought 2 more. Wouldn’t that piss someone off!!!
I really had to calm my dad off or he would have heard from him bad…
Anyways worst service ever.

Delicious. Got a free appetizer with Unilocal check in — the hummus. Ordered the chicken shawarma & beef shawarma. Both very good! Will definitely return.

I am giving it 5 stars because the food is really good. I mean portions are right and you can taste freshness in everything. I believe the opera are Palestinian not that it matters, but they are really hospitable and friendly. The wait staff could use some work. They are friendly but they are not intuitive at all and a bit slow but who cares, I didn’t go there for the atmosphere or the service experience, I went there because of the authentic middle eastern cuisine and the place doesn’t disappoint. You can taste the love that was put in every dish, freshness, cleanliness, and care is everything for me when it comes to food. I was really craving middle eastern and this place is like I was sitting at my mother’s dinner table. Try the Kodessiah and the falafel and the mixed grill deluxe, I think. It’s enough food for 6 comfortable and it won’t even break a $ 100 bill. You will not be disappointed take it from a middle Eastern foodie and someone that really appreciate good food. You won’t regret it

We have been going here many years since before the remodels. The newly remodeled is beautiful. Sometimes the staff isn’t very friendly, but overall it’s good. The food is fantastic except for the rice. We always order the rice with lentil and pay extra because the other tastes like tomato paste added to it. We usually get the large family platter and take home the rest for the next day. Their fatoosh is the best! We brought some friends there and they were so happy we did. The husband of my friend told a co-​worker about it the next day and he wound up taking his family that week and LOVED it and thanked us all. We never leave hungry, that’s for sure. They used to have tv’s on with Arabic videos, but now they just play Arabic music, which is great as well.

This place is really nice. The décor is beautiful. Although it was my first time here, I felt welcomed. The owner and her daughter were the only two in the front of the house and they were nice and friendly. The customer service was spot on. I had ordered the special and didn’t like it, I personally felt it was a lot of tahini sauce on the fish, but I’m pretty sure others will like it, it was very flavorful. The lady let me switch it out and get something else. I next ordered the shawarma; it was so good and I was extremely happy. The appetizer was good (falafel). The dessert were good as well topped with honey

I tried their lamb shawarma, and the mixed appetizer plate. The food was really good! I’m definitely going back there again for more authentic middle eastern plates

Great space. Not many people were there for lunch. Wait staff were a little on the slow slide. But the food is good! We got the usual free pickled starters. They were decent. They were out of one of the lamb dishes that I wanted, but ended up with the ground lamb. It was pretty good. Large portion with decent sides of rice and vegetables. We also ordered the mixed appetizer and their appetizers were good. The falafel was delicious, the grape leaves and hummus were average. This is a great spot with a lot of potential. hopefully they step up their game a little bit so they get on other peoples radar. Funny side note: two days later some customer ran their vehicle through the front window on accident. They were quick to jump on boarding up the window and get repairs done. They could take advantage of the situation and up their ante.

I really like this place, food is very good and so are the prices. The owner and staff is friendly. The lamb shank is huge and only $ 15! Massive selection of apps, and deserts. This is my go to Persian place in the county.

Just had lunch here today & I’m glad we (boyfriend, boyfriend’s brother, boyfriend’s mother) went on a bit of an adventure outside of their familiarity zone. This restaurant is tucked away in a mall strip with a lot of Middle Eastern establishments so you might hit a few different restaurants before arriving at Al Salam.
Service:
Prompt, courteous, & nice. Very friendly when I asked about the best desserts they had to offer. Our waiter led us to some delicious baklava with pistachios.
Prices:
Very affordable. With 3 pieces of dessert & a single appetizer, we had a bill of $ 47 (before tip).
Food:
The stuffed grape leaves were absolutely delicious. Probably some of the best stuffed grape leaves I’ve had in restaurant before. They’re not cold & they’re so flavorful, but not too salty. I love me some stuffed grape leaves, so this was pretty great.
Everyone had some sort of lamb «sandwich» while I had a grilled fish plate with spicy rice. My fish plate was excellent. The tilapia was nicely seasoned, slightly a little overcooked, but not so much that it wasn’t moist. It wasn’t too salty either. The spicy rice wasn’t spicy to me, but it had a lot of cardamom pods that was a bit too cardmom-​y for my taste, but I still enjoyed the dish immensely, especially with all the lemon wedges they gave me. The combination of the special sauce – based in mayo – lemon, & rice made for a really great hearty meal. Would really recommend it! Everyone except for Josh G. enjoyed their dish.
Desserts wise… well, just look at that huge display of desserts! Go up & choose what you want & ask someone who works there for their opinion. We got the baklava with pistachios (it’s made in rosewater, such a beautiful floral & sweet note to an otherwise very nutty flavor) & this coconut bit. Very delicious & it didn’t make me feel like a lard-​o for eating a chocolate lava cake.
Environment:
Flashy chandeliers, y’all! The lighting in the place is very yellow, probably due to the walls, so it makes for an interesting tinge if you’re taking photos. Just ignore it, the ambiance is lackluster, but the food is great.
Stop by if you’re in the area!

Yummy, fantastic and the portions are HUGE!!! Eating Nutritarian, I often wonder why some restaurants think just because my diet consists of vegetables and beans that I eat 20% of what meat eaters so. I want veggies. LOTS of veggies! Preferably prepared with love and bursting with flavour! Well, this spot delivers. We were STUFFED and carried home an extraordinary amount of food! Nom nom nom! We ate left overs and were ever so happy.
Everything tasted homemade. The veggies in the salad were fresh and crisp — INCLUDING THE PARSLEY. Parsley wilts in minutes when u toss it in salad with lemon juice and seasoning. So the salads were MADE fresh. So it’s not like stopping at a Pita or falafel place where the salads are sitting there waiting to be fast food.
The pricing was VERY reasonable. Our table for 4 was covered with generous «large» orders of fattoush, Arabic salad, foul madamas, hummus, baba ganouj, musakkah, koddsieh, and grilled onions and tomatoes — $ 67. Anyone who has ever tried to get fed at other «middle eastern» spots including but not limited Meza or Taverna opa — u know what the bill looks like, lol, and the mini portion sizes!
Great for vegans, vegetarians and carnivores alike. We ate vegan with no oil on anything and it was amazing! Food explodes with authentic flavours… sumac… :-) sumac so yummy!!! For dessert people — a ridiculous assortment of baklava and other baked goods. All that has ghee, so we didn’t try any but it sure looked good.
Also, the service was GREAT!
We will be back and we are looking forward to being regulars!

While you may easily go casual, the setting is very classy.
The food is very authentic — I like the shwarma, the lentil soup and the mujadara.
I usually don’t love stuffed grape leaves, but theirs are served heated and I ate all of them.
The portions are very generous.

I am half Arabian so I know what good authentic arab food is supposed to taste like and this is it! Lamb was good, yogurt was good, kabobs were good, fettoush salad was very good and the garlic sauce and falafel was so yummy too! They even had authentic desserts available which a lot of places don’t. Took a friend back with me and she got a sandwich for lunch and loved it too. Will definitley be visiting again!

Sera uno de mis preferidos de hoy en adelante! Deliciosa comida y los dulces ni hablar!

Oh, I don’t know about the grape leaves. I thought they were dry in fact most of the food was dry; especially the kafta and the spicy rice. Their lamb kabob was OK, but everything seemed overpriced for what was delivered. Take the Al Salam salad for example; there is no reason to charge $ 6.95 for a little tomato and cucumber and everything else was just a wee bit too expensive.
Their baba ghanouge had an odd flavor and that is unforgivable. It complimented the slow service and the baklava with the overcooked (but not burned) bottom. This a bakery and they should do better. Many of my best friends are Lebonese so I am frequently eating in middle eastern restaurants or in their homes and this place is definately sub standard.

Looooove this place! The food, exquisite. The service, warm and friendly. And the ambiance… wow, wow, woooooooow! It’s been three years since I’ve been here and they have totally transformed the interior. This place is truly a hidden gem.
Recommendations:
Lentil Soup
Humos with Lamb Shawerma
Spicy Rice
Lamb Shawerma Sandwich
Chicken Shawerma Platter
And you cannot leave without having some house tea and Baklava, of course.
If you are looking for phenomenal food, you MUST come to Al Salam! It’s a bit hidden, but when you pass through the doors, you will be transported to the Middle East.

I have been craving for some good Baba Ghanouge for awhile now and oh how I’m glad my friend found this place for me!
So you know how that saying goes about how your eyes are hungrier than your tummy? Lol. I definitely ordered more than I could handle. All the yummy things all on one appetizer platter, how could I say no to that?! It came with baba ghanouge, musakkah, hummus, falafel, grape leaves, kibbeh, and taboli. All very good.
I was so full after the appetizer, which was barely half way gone, that I barely touched my entrée! I ordered the meat shawerma platter with their spicy rice. From the little I ate, it was really good too. Can’t wait to have it later as my leftovers.
And of course, my friend, that little devil tempted me with sweets! –_​– I really do need to say no to my sweettooth. We got 2 types of baklava, which were both very good. I haven’t had a good baklava in a long time. I’m not a big fan when they drench it in simple syrup, so this place does a good job not doing that. The server was really nice and gave us complimentary fingers too. Those were delicious! Definitely we’ll get those next time too! The desserts are mini so it gives you a chance to try multiple items without feeling too guilty. =)
Only reason why it’s missing a star is because there was a little critter that crawled on our table during our meal. Not so appetizing. Sucks that Florida has a roach problem. I hate/​despise/​loathe roaches! =(

I have recently discovered Al Salam, this whole time just minutes away from my office! What a shame I didn’t know about it earlier because I have been missing out. Al Salam is well hidden in a dreary strip mall off Sunrise Blvd, just east of University Drive, its tucked inside the side corner of the Plantation Crossroad Plaza which is the strip mall behind the CVS Pharmacy on University. I don’t think you can actually see the restaurant if you drive by, unless you know it’s there you can easily miss some of the best Mediterranean food in the area.
I was impressed the minute I set foot inside, I did not expect the beautiful décor and gorgeous crystal chandeliers adorning the dining room which has a combinations of booths and also dining tables, the restaurant is very clean and newly remodeled, I don’t know what it looked like before, but all I can say is that they did an amazing job, never would I have imagined that this little hidden restaurant looked so pretty on the inside. The hostess is very friendly and accommodating, and service is equally friendly and efficient. As soon as we were sat we were served a small dish of picked veggies consisting of spiced celery, carrots and turnips, they were very good. This latest visit I took advantage of the Free Appetizer for my Unilocal Check-​in, the offerings were Hummus, Falafel and Baba ganoush, we opted for the Baba ganoush which was promptly served with warm pita bread, the Baba ganoush was outstanding and may have been some of the best Baba ganoush I have come across, once we placed our lunch orders a large salad with vinaigrette dressing was served for our table to share, the salad was very fresh and had just the right balance of dressing.
I opted for #35 — The char-​grilled chicken thigh meat served with spicy rice served with a garlic sauce, it was just as delicious as last time, juicy fresh chicken and a delicious generous side of spiced rice, it’s not spicy as in hot, its just rice with spices and it is delicious. My friends were equally impressed with their food, one was the chicken Shawerma (Boneless chicken marinated with special spices, slowly roasted and thinly sliced) and the other was the Meat Shawerma (Marinated lamb & beef with special spices, slowly roasted & thinly sliced served with spicy rice). All platters are served with a choice of yellow rice, spicy rice or french.
One very important thing to note which I believe is why the food is so delicious is that they only use fresh ingredients, they don’t use frozen meats, only use fresh veggies, and their food is prepared with out any preservatives or additives, it just tastes homemade and fresh, which makes the pricing even more outstanding because this amazing meal was very reasonably priced. Service was very attentive, checked in on us several times, presentation of the food is excellent, not only is the food is delicious but the way it is served is presented is also very nice, and the food came out very fast which is great for a fast work lunch. The restaurant is so nice inside I wish it was closer to my house because it would make a lovely date place at night.
There is a large display case to the back of the restaurant hosting an amazing array of desserts, I haven’t tried them yet and believe me it has taken a lot of restraint because they do look delicious, Baklava and many other middle eastern desserts are beautifully displayed in small towers and cut into small serving sizes that look extremely appetizing. I highly recommend Al Salam, warm friendly service, great value and wonderful food, I look forward to trying other items on the menu.

Who knew this restaurant would be the best place we’ve eaten Middle Eastern food since we moved to Florida decades ago? We took a chance tonight and it turned out to really pay off!
From the pickled veggies served as soon as we were seated to the homemade dishes, to the array of authentic desserts we were so glad we came.
The restaurant is very clean; it has beautiful chandeliers, arched doorways, enjoyable Arabic music and comfortable booth benches/​chairs.
The servers were very hospitable and made us feel welcome. The male server even congratulated us on ordering the dishes he usually recommends to those who are unsure about what to get.
We ordered the mixed appetizer: humus (a dip of chickpea and sesame seed paste with spices), baba ganouj (a smoked eggplant dip), kibbeh (ground meat and pine nuts in a fried wheat shell — LOVED THIS), falafel (ground chickpeas and spices fried to create a shell with soft filling), musakkah (cold eggplant, tomato and onion blend — similar to caponata), and taboli (a wheat and parsley mix). We substituted the 2 stuffed grape leaves that come with the platter for more falafel. It was served with fluffy pita — the store next door has a wood burning oven where a guy is actually making the pitas!
OMG — I haven’t enjoyed this food so much since I left NY. I can’t tell you how on point each item was. I am SO glad we have leftovers!
We ordered the mixed grill of kababs: one stick of grilled dark meat chicken (the best), chicken kafta, beef kafta, and beef pieces. It came with «spicy rice» (not spicy). While each meat was tasty the beef was dry — likely because it’s Halal so it has no sign of blood (no medium rare meat here!). ACTUALLY on our second visit we enjoyed medium rare lamb chops so I stand corrected!
We ordered 2 more dishes to have for lunch tomorrow but asked that it be served so we could taste it: Arrosa lamb (ground lamb, onion, and parsley made into a paste and cooked inside of a pita bread and garnished with raw onion slices and summac spice) and shawerma (lamb slices with tomato, lettuce, and sauce wrapped inside a pita bread and cut into 2 pieces). Each was delicious, especially the Arrosa — good thing cuz that’s my lunch for tomorrow!
We enjoyed — and I mean REALLY enjoyed the hot mint tea throughout the meal. I went to the store next to the restaurant after our meal and bought some loose tea that was served in the restaurant so we can continue to enjoy the tea at home!
We took dessert to go — an assortment of walnuts, almonds, and pistachios nestled in phylo dough with honey; semolina cakes saturated with sweet syrup; sweet cheese inside of phylo dough crescents, etc. It’ll go well with the tea… for a few days! They all looked so good it was hard to stop ordering!
This was a wonderful experience because the people were great, the food was just delicious, and we felt like we got to enjoy Middle Eastern culture both in the restaurant and store. We’ll be back (and I’ll use my check-​in free appetizer next time!)