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Hidden in Martin Place however you still can easily find it. The food was good and decent, I got Oyster - very fresh, the Lebanese zucchini with pistachios tahini, very crunchy, sweetness well balanced with the nuts. Star of the show was the dry aged duck, you need to give this one a try, duck is well cooked and juicy plus with a touch of the sweet n sour pomegranate- simply delectable. I was surprised that I could finish the dish myself. Also the Hibiscus Iced tea was very refreshing and not too sweet if you like non alcohol drinks. Another highlight of this place is the staff and services are top notch. Extremely polite, helpful and make sure your dining experience at the most pleasant. Will recommend and will come back!

Chefs ReviewDisclaimer: I’m nitpicking small details.After eating at many of the best restaurants in Sydney I can say Sometimes the food is so detailed and good that it comes across simple but really it’s complex.Keeping it short and Sweet, Welcome to Aalia,Immerse yourself in a hybrid mixture of Middle Eastern & North African Cuisine.SERVICE was IMPECCABLE, really solid front of house, Super attentive and goes above and beyond.Quail: Quail Skewer, Molokhia, Barberries, The best entree there… great Acidity levels and Juicy Quail, Flavour and seasoning and cookery was on point, would order again. 7.5/10Halloumi: Hand Stretched Haloumi, Kohlrabi, Marjoram, It had Date Molasses which helped the saltiness of the Halloumi, I did find the Haloumi quite Salty and the Kohlrabi was more on the light side of a pickle, Not super Sour, I feel the Sour Pickle would balanced the flavours getting it more on the line. But that is just personal preference I enjoy everything with big Bold flavours so sometimes a dish not fully flavoured can be a nice break from bold flavours, 6.5/10Eggplant Mes ‘A’ Aha, Spiced Tomato:Preserved Tomato, it was again not super strong in Flavour but more lighter, I was told to eat with the bread which was why I Ordered it, but it just wasn’t punchy as I expected, had a slightly Chilli oil flavour to it, very mild. 6/10Pita was nice and Burnt on the top, Not crazy high hydration but it was decent enough and Fresh, not super airy as-well and didn’t have that sour dough flavour like Nour, 5/10Heirloom Carrots, Carrot Top Sahawiq, Labneh: Some of the Carrots were So cooked through they fell apart and some had a good bite to it, Labneh was labneh, was it chimmi churri? Carrot top wasn’t pleasant to eat in some mouthfuls, Strange cinnamon flavour conflicts with Smokey taste of the Grill. Good seasoning though not my style of flavours. 5/10Lamb Hawawshi, Black Garlic, Lemon:Very Nomad Pastilla vibes, Lamb tasted good and Pinenuts always complement Braised Lamb, gave me apple pie McDonald’s feels, black garlic just tasted as it was, didn’t have crazy flavours just honest flavours with fresh quality ingredients, I don’t like Black garlic flavour that straight forward but I would probably order it again, It’s quite heavy the lemon helps cut through that richness. 7/10Dry Aged Duck, Fesenjan:Duck was crispy, Air dryed could tell it was nicely blanched and done over the firefly nicely, Great seasoning of the duck, Slightly under rested as can see but it’s no problem, I do prefer Duck Medium but it wasn’t far from it.The Sauce I could taste had a depth of flavour and came from bones of duck and your typical stock ingredients, I could really taste that however with the tamarind it left it more acidic which help cut through the fatty mouthfeel of the duck but the sauce lacked sweetness everyone loves duck with sweetness! pomegranates didn’t add anything IMO just felt it was there for some Colour, Very Solid cooking but just missed small details when it comes to flavour for me. 7.5/10Brown Butter Katifi, Coconut, Sumac Mango: It was the best dessert there by far, Brown butter Nuttiness with the zing of mango accompanied with sumac and Coconut, Brandy snap, texturally it was perfect, ever so slightly too sweet but it was so enjoyable I really didn’t care, do RECCOMEND. 8/10Valrhona Chocolate, Walnut Ghoriba, Tahini:Not super sure on the intentionality of the texture of the Valrhona but the top layer was solid and hadn’t been temped which made it not as easy to go through with the spoon, The ice cream was Vanilla ice cream very typical and overly sweet, the caramel layering was nice but it was to salty with the salt flakes not crushed up enough and eaten all together you would have to really be a sweet person to enjoy it. ( It didn’t feel like this dessert was thought about much imo) 6/10Halva Truffle, Pecan, Pistachio petit fours: halva over powered the whole flavour profile didn’t taste much truffle or pistachio, and chewy, wasn’t my favourite petit four but wasn’t the worst. 5/10

10/10 experience from the amazing combination of flavours and outstanding service. Every dish was delicious! We will be definitely back.The bone marrow a must and the lobster was sensational. Aalia you didn’t disappoint

The food was absolutely amazing 🤩 Thank you so much. Our server Mario was super helpful and attentive. The reisling we had was perfect. All in all a 5-star experience and you absolutely deserve all the rave reviews that you are getting!

I recently dined at Aalia Restaurant in Martin Place, and the experience was profoundly disappointing. Coming from a Lebanese background, where my mum makes these dishes for not even a quarter of the price, I was particularly let down by the banquet for two.The value for money was appalling. For the high price, the portion sizes were small, and the flavors were surprisingly bland. Each dish lacked the seasoning and depth of flavor that are essential to authentic MENA cuisine. The presentation was also underwhelming, and the overall dining experience felt far from special.To make matters worse, the restaurant's lack of basic amenities was shocking—there is no toilet on the premises, which is an unacceptable oversight for any dining establishment. This lack of facilities further contributed to the overall poor experience.Additionally, the service was indifferent, with staff seeming disinterested and inattentive throughout our meal.Overall, Aalia Restaurant did not meet any of our expectations. The food was unremarkable, the prices were unjustifiable, and the absence of a restroom made the experience even less comfortable. Given that our homemade MENA dishes are superior in both taste and value, I would not recommend this restaurant.Also when we asked for a spare plate to split the dish between my partner and I, the server said to use the existing plate after we have eaten what was on it… not very MENA. Unbelievable haven’t had an experience like this in a long time!In refining MENA cuisine, you lost its soul.

We were really looking forward to dinning here as the menu looked very impressive.Service we found was friendly and very welcoming but overall found the atmosphere was spoilt for us by been seated near the kitchen, constant sound of plates and staff flying by us, not quite fine dinning standards we have encountered.Decided to go with the A la Carte option and went with the Sea urchin, Raw tuna, Beef nayyeh and Lamb hawawshi to start with.Presentation was stunning and the highlight was surprisingly the Lamb hawawshi which worked really well with the black garlic.For main we couldn't resist the dry aged duck which was perfectly cooked and a definite winner, but for us there was just no sides that really worked with it.Overall, we enjoyed dining here but not quite up to the standard we were expecting.

Absolutely a dining experiencw that deserves all the accolades. Service is professional, attentive without being overbearing. Tables wiped between meals. Bone marrow with black walnuts exceptional, paired with their loaf. A small thing but a wee finger towel. King prawn skewers delicious and dark chocolate truffles to finish. It is $$$, however you get what you pay for and its worth it.

I really liked this restaurant, the service and the food although we ordered way too much. My husband felt the lamb was too rich. My favorite was the crispy cod and the eggplant. Neither of us cared for the chips. We had two entrees, three small appetizers and a veggies. Had we ordered the banquet, we definitely would have over ordered. I’m he service is good and we did not feel rushed which we appreciated . I liked sitting outside .

I've been here a few times with different groups and it's always been excellent. The middle-eastern influenced food makes a refreshing and delicious change from the usual contemporary Italian/French/Australian menus. The eggplant mes a aha is great, the cuttlefish is amazing and the murray cod is superb. Service is very good, and staff are happy to make recommendations on which dishes to pair. Good list of wines available by the glass, with a sommelier's choice selection is you want to lash out.

The set menu dinner experience was quite enjoyable. The staff was quite attentive, the service was quite reasonably paced given it was a busy night. Interesting flavours with great presentation. The only downside is that toilet is outside of the building

The food and level of service was amazing! The personal touch with the note to wish my husband a happy birthday was a thoughtful gesture.Also loved the cocktails options! The strawberry spritz was my favourite!Will definitely be back again

Buzzy, moody Middle Eastern restaurant with interesting flavours and friendly service.The menu is into divvy up into snacks, caviar, mezze, seafood, meat and vegetables. There is a banquet option but we opt for à la carte - selecting dishes from each section (except for caviar). On the whole it was an interesting experience, but the use of salt is too generous for me.We start with the much lauded Sea urchin ($16) on a huge perilla leaf which is eaten rolled up but has too much green taste for me. Fattoush cracker ($9), thick and chewy, is topped with a refreshing mess of cucumber, pomegranate and salad leaves. Beef nayyeh (raw, $16) is very nicely salted and seasoned with spices, served on a rather thickish, chewy cracker.The mezze dish of smoked buffalo labneh ($26) is quite unusual - we were encouraged to smear the labneh on leaves with / without a dash of the beetroot molasses. The combined taste is salty (labneh), bitter (the leaves) and sweet (molasses).Dry Aged Murray Cod ($65) is beautifully cook - the flesh velvety, the skin a trifle too salty for me, crisp with chewy bits. Lamb neck shawarma ($59) has the requisite melt-in-the-mouth tenderness, like something you have slow cooked in the oven for 10+ hours. But it is the side accompaniment of tarator (white sauce) and pickles that brings out the Middle Eastern soul for me.A vegetable dish of Baby okra (18) with sharp, tangy muhammara (roasted red pepper) sauce, complete the meal.Service is approachable and competent.

This is one of the “best middle eastern restaurants is the city”. The food is fantastic the staff are amazing and the food is outstanding. The location is superb too. A must go to if you fancy something different.The quail skewers were amazing, lehmeh neyyeh was very tasty. Fatoosh craker is very simple yet never had fatoosh like this before.The lamb neck is very tender and taste amazing. Its good for sharing.

New favorite restaurant! You have to try the beef nayer, everything was so well balanced and enjoyable. The venue is beautiful and the service incredible. Big thanks to Francesco for helping us choose the best food, to Sheila for hosting us wonderfully and Bianca for explaining the dishes so well.Hope to repeat soon again! ☺️

Celebrated my birthday here and the service was world class.Due to a misunderstanding there was a dish I was allergic too, but they were so apologetic about it, we started to feel bad. Thankyou I don't know name of our waitress but she was lovely and so was the manager, the night quicklu turned around to feel special celebrating my birthday there.Food is very unique. Can't say I've eaten similar before. The beef cracker was our favourite dish. Good vibes on a Thursday night.

Had a great dinner there after work. If you get there early enough, ask for an express menu, which is smaller than a normal tasting menu but still showcases signature dishes. The atmosphere and services are fantastic

The food was impeccable. The ambience was nice and the venue was beautiful! The best thing however was the service. I didn't get the waitress' name but she served me with delight and friendliness. She even ran after me when I left my bag! That really made my experience even memorable!! Highly recommended!!

We had an amazing dinner, service was great. Food was really nice with all plates having a different taste, which made the dishes all so interesting and enjoyable. Staff knew right away which dishes contained particular spices which assisted us with allergy concerns. Food: Presented beautifully and staff were very professional. It’s nice to be able to go out to dinner and not forced to pay a surcharge for a Saturday then expect a tip. Staff were hospitable and worked hard all night (besides the main chef in the kitchen on his phone scrolling - maybe don’t do that in front of diners). If staff work well and are professional of course diners may want to tip. I would return here for the food, service and the fact not having to pay a surcharge and tip on top of a bill when you have already spent $300 on dinner. Thank you for helping us celebrate our special night and for being professional and knowledgeable. We look forward to returning in the near future and recommend this restaurant for couples, friend catch ups and small groups wishing to celebrate an occasion as booth tables are available too.

This restaurant was by far our favorite on our visit to Sydney in Jan 2024. We were so pleased with the absolutely delicious food. The wine list was phenomenal. The service was so amazing and we felt absolutely pampered. Highly, highly recommend. If available, get the sfouf dessert.

We had our birthday celebration last night by going to AALIA and the theater after.Everything from the start to finish was impeccable and meticulous, from the service, atmosphere and the food!We had the banquet menu at $110 per person which showcased all their top menu items. Everything was hands-down so tasty and hadwell rounded flavours; if we had to pick our favourite of the lot - it would definitely be the Murray cod with burnt leek - I just wished that I had ordered some more bread to soak up all that lovely sauce with!Kudos to the team at AALIA last night from the maître d’, sommelier, chef and kitchen staff as well as all the wait staff who looked after us! We will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu!

The Middle Eastern fusion dishes are beautifully presented, with perfectly balanced flavors. The spices complement the main ingredients without overpowering them. Soft, warm pita is served, ideal for dipping in olive oil and eggplant—a true celebration of carbs. The wagyu I had was exceptionally well-seasoned, delivering a subtle heat while remaining tender and juicy inside. The dessert options are uniquely crafted, offering flavor combinations i won't find elsewhere in Sydney. Recommended!

Aalia is one of the best restaurants I've had the pleasure of trying. The food, service, and atmosphere all deserve 5 stars! A big shoutout to Andrea and Mario, who made the experience memorable. They were attentive and always happy to answer our questions about the food. The interaction between the staff was so friendly, it felt like a family. All the dishes we tried were so delicious and my favourite was the bay lobster chicken fat orzo with trout roe but absolutely all the dishes were amazing.Highly recommend to try:Sydney rock oysterFattous crackerEggplant mes ‘a’ aha, spiced tomatoBone marrow ful medames, black walnutAustralian bay lobster, chicken fat orzo, trout roeBaby okra, rose petal muhammaraAshta dateDark chocolate truffleI will definitely be going there again to try more food :)

Amazing food and service and lovely decor. It's very popular especially on a Friday and Saturday night so be sure to book. The portions are slightly on the small side so you may find that you need a couple of starters as well as a main. The starters were not really big enough to share.

Tried the banquet menu. Every dish was delicious and crafted well. Great visual presentation and served by the waiting staff with details about the dish. There are some different cocktails on the menu. Overall, it was a great dinner experience.

Went here for our anniversary. Loved everything we had chosen, namely the bread that came with the bone marrow dip, the lamb hawawshi with the black garlic sauce and the wagu rump cap, which was cooked perfectly medium rare. Even the sides we got (carrots and bitter salad) were full of flavour. Also really enjoyed the mango coconut katifi wafer dessert. Although a little loud for an intimate dinner, we still thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience. Can recommend!

Shop 7.07-7.08/25 Martin Pl, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia•

•+61 2 9182 5880•Tips and more reviews for AALIA Restaurant Sydney