Ottawa Foodies

7

After reading this page, i was concerned with the racist allegation posted, being Arab myself i decided to see if i would get a better service then other costumers.

I ordered the mixed platter, and tried to be friendly while i spoke in Arabic. the chicken was ok and there was hardly any beef just fat, i didn't enjoy the salad.

And if your wondering, yes, they did give me a plate of tabouli for free. It was quite clear that i received a better treatment, but i don't think its based on the grounds of racism rather then simply being comforted by the familiar. I mean i knew where his hometown is in Lebanon and he spoke to me much more openly in arabic, i can imagine someone getting the wrong idea from this place, specially if your hungry and waiting in line listening to some Arabic gibberish. No offense but i think T. Hill took it way to personally. Im sure i would get a different type of service if it was somebody else serving me.

Hope this review was helpful.

4

I admit to some surprise at the suggestion of racism. I've been going there for years and i'm about as white as you get. Sure they chat with relatives/friends who are customers while they're serving, but we've never had anything less than good service, usually great.

That said, it's counter service, the servers are young guys, and if someone is expecting high end service they're going to be disappointed.

And i stand by this as the best shawarma in the city.

3

3

As I said before I respect your comments/opinions however;

@ Lil Legume I was a loyal customer. I use to recommend that place all the time and if you think I'm the only person who has complained about their preferential racist and rude behaviour think again. I gave them the benefit of the doubt since I never experienced it first hand but guess what my time just didn't come until now. Regardless or being a regular you should try to provide the best service not the worse service b/c you think I'm not a regular. I'm sorry but wouldn't you want customers to keep coming to your establishment is that not what business is about? So them trying to give me the old chicken was just b/c I was perceived not to be a regular customer? That was my experience and I'm allowed to say how I felt. I'm not throwing around a word I'm telling you what I know I experienced. (To add I also noticed they changed the servers in the font to ones who ignore and don't even know how to great a customer)

@ Fresh Foodie Yes I will be trying other places since I said I won't ever be going back. There are many restaurants downtown Rideau. As well if you looked down Rideau street there are many shawarma places so I doubt I will be missing anything except rude behaviour and declining food quality. I've been to many restaurants and rude behaviour doesn't fly with me ever especially when you are customer spending your money.

Please note I'm talking about the location on 464 Rideau Street.

4

ilikerealfood, them being rude to you is not illegal but it should be bad for business.
However, stealing by misrepresenting your order *is* illegal.

I don't buy the charges of racism. 'Lil Legume's points are all valid, and I always prefer to give the benefit of the doubt. If you're so offended by this place, go out and try some others -- you might be surprised to find how good they are. :-)

5

6

How are you guys sure they are being racist? Maybe the ppl that are getting prefered treatment are relatives, friends, or really loyal customers. Part of being regulars is getting little extras.
If the food is bad, then fine - but racist is a big term that shouldn't really be thrown around causually.

6

1

At ilikerealfood to me that is not the best Shawarma ( I respect your opinion). However I can't eat from a place where good customer service absent. And to those who thumbed me down I wonder if you would feel happy to be ignored, given the worse part of the food, due to race while spending your hard earn money. I'm sorry it was one of the worse experiences going to a restaurant. The food was bad too potatoes cold, chicken was dry like I said food quality and service gone to hell.

4

4

Although I and many other foodies agree that this is by far the best shawarma in town, I also agree that they give preferential treatment to arabs. Seen it so many times. They always charge me extra for tabouli, or extra pickles, but gladly fullfill requests - free of charge - to people of their race. Anyways, I always get a mixed plate and just tell the cashier that it is a chicken plate. My one dollar sneaky savings makes up for the rudeness.

Still the best shawarma thought.

6

5

Racist and rude. My mother and I use to be regular customers at Shawarma Palace but now that is over. Not only has their customer service gone to hell but so has their food quality. Their hummus taste like cardboard. The customer service is more preferred towards arab/middle eastern people. I noticed if an arab/middle eastern person orders food they will give them the best part and larger portion however if another customer of a different race or ethnicity they give them the worse part of the food and a smaller portion.

My mother and I went in and the server behind the counter was taking forever with an arab customer even exchanging numbers. He blatantly ignored us not even hi or I will be with you in a second. No greeting was given. Finally the server came over. I requested for a mixed plate since my mother and I were going to share. My mother eats beef but I don't due to allergies so my mom asked for the beef to be placed on a separate plate on the side. They said that it would be extra. Extra for a small saucer? What happened to customer service any establishment/ restaurant and you request for a side plate their would be no objection. Not only that when the server was serving the other middle eastern man he took from the fresh chicken but then tried to give us the old one!

I'm sorry but when running a business race, colour, ethnicity has nothing to do with it. You're there to provide good customer service and to make money. Especially since there is so much competition not only among the umpteenth Shawarma places in Ottawa but other restaurants. You think these people would like to provide good customer service so people would keep coming back.

When my mother and I went there there were only one other person in the restaurant they should get use to it. With them exercising poor customer service, business practices and poor food quality I can't see why anybody would want to subject themselves to horrific food and service.

Best Shawarma in town. By far! they're roasted potatoes are to die for and their garlic sauce is awesome. Their rice is not bad either

1

The Rideau location is the original and in my never so humble opinion by far the best shawarmaria in the city.

2

UFC fighter Nick Denis wrote a blog on his love for Shawarma Palace.

topmmanews.com

5

In regards to T. Hills I have to say I'm not surprised by his comments regarding racism at all! I'm an Arab-Canadian who was born and raised in Ottawa and speak very little Arabic.

I walked into this place with a friend a little while back so that I can introduce to him what I once thought was the best shwarma in Ottawa. By the time it was our turn in line, I proceeded to place my order in English. I could tell the man behind the counter was disappointed. He must have asked me about 4 or 5 times why I don't speak the language while giving me dirty looks the whole time. Worse yet, I had repeatedly asked him to put hot sauce in the shwarma and he just kept ignoring me completely, as if I was even there. The only time he acknowledged this request was AFTER the shawarma was folded up and mumbled I would get some on the side. After that he started talking to my friend in Arabic who does understand the language about me and how I should know it.

Just because I look like an Arab doesn't excuse this man or anyone else for that matter to behave so ignorantly. This is discrimination. I mean God forbid I speak English when we live in Canada!

As far as the food quality quality goes it has indeed declined. Whoever said the Shawarma was dry and the hummus tasted like cardboard in a previous comment was right on the money! So all this considered, needless to say I will not be back here.