Having recently been introduced to the pleasures of Lebanese cuisine, my husband and I decided to try Al Shami.  The restaurant is hidden away in the backstreets of Jericho, but seemed to come highly recommended by the 'Oxford Handbook', with a number of Good Food Awards in the past few years.

We arrived at about 8pm on a Friday evening, having not booked, but were still able to be seated, despite most tables already being full.  I would recommend that any number greater than two would probably be better to book if they wanted to be assured of a table.  The restaurant sits on the corner of two roads, and has a very 'open' feel to it, with two walls being fully glass windows, light coloured walls with a number of mirrors, and delicately decorated tables.  The lighting was fairly bright within the restaurant, giving an overall 'airy' feel, rather than a cosy atmosphere, which may be something to take into account if one is looking for a quiet, atmospheric restaurant for a secluded meal for two.  That said, the restaurant was ideal for a more lively group meal, and perfectly suited to a less romantic occassion.

The service could not be faulted - waiters/resses were attentive without being overbearing, and food was served quickly.  We ordered a bottle of the house white, and both had starters.  The menu at Al Shami is endless, with 43 different starters (Lebanese hors d'oeuvres) and 20 main dishes, both with a fantastic selection of vegetarian options available. I ordered the Laban Bi-Khyar (yoghurt wth cucumber) and my husband the Sujuq (Armenian sausages) to begin with. Both came with Lebanese bread, and a complementary platter of salad was also brought to the table.  The platter was huge, with carrot, lettuce, cucumber, tomato, peppers and radishes; the yoghurt a slight disappointment, being rather thin so that it was difficult to keep on the vegetables or bread, and with the cucumber being literally three rings presented on the edge of the bowl; however the quantity was again extremely generous.  The Sujuq were described as beautifully moist and tasty, and still nicely hot; though possibly slightly too vinegary for my husband's taste.

Our main dishes were brought to us as soon as the starters were cleared; I ordered the Al Shami vegetarian Special  (described as 'A variety of vegetables in season cooked Lebanese way'), which was a mix of cauliflower, brocolli, beans, sweetcorn and peas in a rich vinegar/tomato sauce.  A disappointment was that this did not come with rice or any other such side order; however, we had ordered some more Lebanese bread to come with this course which served a similar purpose.  The dish was again, possibly slightly overpowered by the vinegar taste of the sauce, but not to the point of being unenjoyable, and was a reasonable size with the bread side order.  My husband chose the mixed grill: Kafta (minced lamb) and chicken with grilled onions, mushrooms and tomatoes, which was slightly smaller than I might have hoped, but again perfectly adequate with the side order of bread.

The meal, on the whole, I felt was possibly a slight disappointment compared to other Lebanese restaurants in Oxford, although I may have been expecting something amazing after previous reviews of Al Shami and the knowledge of the Good Food Awards, which might have meant my expectations were unrealistically high. However, I do think that if I were to recommend a Lebanese restaurant to a friend, I might not give Al Shami as my first choice, unless the bright and open feel to the restaurant was of particular importance to the occasion.  That said, the meal WAS enjoyable, and for the price we paid (£30 for two people, with wine; see the link to the menu at www.al-shami.co.uk) a very reasonable evening out, and I would return again if the circumstance was suited to the atmosphere provided.

Alison Hook

We have the independent.co.uk to thank for the following review:

One of the few Lebanese restaurants outside London, this isn't sumptuous but it's bright with paintings and plants, service from formally attired staff is attentive, and it is treasured particularly for the quality of the meze. Following the customary plate of raw vegetables, dishes range from fried cauliflower with sesame oil, parsley, garlic and lemon juice to lamb's brain salad. They can be followed by the usual aromatic meaty grills from £6, on to sticky pastries with potent coffee.

Caroline Stacey

Reviewed
many years
ago

If you think that Lebanese food is sort of like Greek or Turkish and found in vans that park in St. Giles, consider the fact that Al-Shami is one of the few Oxford restaurants listed in the Good food Guide, and take yourself along to 25 Walton Crescent for some re-education. Al-Shami is an ideal place to take a group of friends as the atmosphere is lively and the menu is conducive to "mix-and match" sharing of dishes. It is also a good idea to eat sparingly for a day beforehand as all the courses are well worth sampling.

The menu is extensive, breaking down into lengthy lists of hot and cold starters and around 20 main courses. Vegetarians will be in hoummos heaven, and could make a full meal out of a variety of starters alone. For the more adventurous the menu offers dishes as diverse as lambs brain, hot Arabic salad or red mullet.

After ten minutes spent nibbling on the salad brought with the menu, the four of us threw in the towel and left the choice of dishes entirely to the waiter. We were not disappointed. We shared six starters, most noteworthy being the Sujuq, delicious beef sausages made by the chef, the hoummos topped with fried lamb and Qine nuts, and Mohammara Bil jawz, a subtle blend of crushed nuts with hot sauce. The clever use of contrasting but somehow complimentary flavours created dishes that were both delicious and unusual. Don 't be put off by strange-sounding combinations - the chef certainly does know what he is doing.

Main courses on offer are mostly charcoal grilled lamb and chicken, along with some fish and vegetarian dishes. We were brought Kafta Khashkhash, Laham mashwi ma'a al-fitr, and Shish taouq, along with pilau rice and mixed vegetables. The Kafta turned out to be aromatic and spicy lamb meatballs, while the Laham consisted of skewers of tender, delicately seasoned lamb with mushrooms and tomatoes. It was a close contest, but highest marks went to the Shish taouq, chicken suffused with garlic and lemon which melted in the mouth.

After a lengthy break, in which time we gathered our strength and finished an excellent bottle of the house red (Lebanese of course!), we managed to tackle dessert. Again the staff helpfully brought us a selection of their sweet pastries, delicious concoctions of filo pastry, honey, and nuts. A cup of thick coffee, redolent with cardamom and cinnamon completed the meal.

This complete feast came to just under £70 for four. With superb food and friendly service a meal at the Al-Shami is excellent value for money. The full tables testify to its popularity, so it is advisable to book in advance. Absolutely recommended.

Simon Kiddle