Monday, July 17, 2006
Sahara Dunes
90 Robertson Road
July 13th, 2006
Shawarma: 4/5
Mesa: 2/5
Experience: 4/5
What does the Saharan dunes have to do with Lebanese food? Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe my Geography isn’t as good as I thought it was, but who cares? It’s just a name, a name of an exotic sounding far-off place. Fair enough, let’s eat.
Sahara Dunes is in a mini mall in Bell’s Corners in the West End. I could see from down the road the neon lights of pink and blue that surround the front window. I guess that look has become the common signage of “Shawarmaries” in this city. Well it worked. I had never seen the place before and yet there I was with hunger in my belly and a 10-spot in my hand.
The first thing you’ll notice as you walk in the front door is a sign that says “closed on Sundays”. It explains Sundays are family days. For the owner this is not a business. This is a living. The feeling that this is just an honest guy plying his trade is reinforced by the letter posted on the wall. It is from a customer that was so impressed with the food and service that they had to write the owner, Jamal to thank him.
Jamal was behind the cash when I was there. He was getting ready to close, but was happy to see one last customer. I guess he had put the spits of meat away for the night. He went in the back room to cut some for me. He heated it up by splashing some water on his grill and throwing the meat on for a few minutes.
While waiting for my “to-go” order to be put together I looked around the place. It was full of pictures of Lebanon. The news that day spoke of the Israeli Army laying siege to Lebanon again as (in the words of our own Prime Minister) Israel has a right to defend itself. I guess Lebanon has no right to defend itself then, I thought. Then my hunger pulled me away from politics and back to my food, which was now ready.
The meat was very good, tender, good cut and lots of flavour. The platter also included some rice and salad. The rice was nice, but I’ve had better elsewhere. The salad was ample and with a pleasing vinaigrette. The tabouli may not have had as much punch as most others. The hummus and garlic sauce also were a bit bland. It was a platter of fair, if slightly timid Lebanese food. I like mine full of flavours.
At the cash Jamal fumbled with the change for a second. He smiled and said “it’s been a long day”. I left 10 minutes before the place was meant to close. He turned off the “OPEN” sign when I went. I guess he had other places to go, to get home to the family.
This is far, far removed from the world of chain restaurants, a rare breed in our modern world. This is a shop where an honest guy has hung up a sign. For a few bucks he’ll cook you some good food. I’m sold.
July 13th, 2006
Shawarma: 4/5
Mesa: 2/5
Experience: 4/5
What does the Saharan dunes have to do with Lebanese food? Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe my Geography isn’t as good as I thought it was, but who cares? It’s just a name, a name of an exotic sounding far-off place. Fair enough, let’s eat.
Sahara Dunes is in a mini mall in Bell’s Corners in the West End. I could see from down the road the neon lights of pink and blue that surround the front window. I guess that look has become the common signage of “Shawarmaries” in this city. Well it worked. I had never seen the place before and yet there I was with hunger in my belly and a 10-spot in my hand.
The first thing you’ll notice as you walk in the front door is a sign that says “closed on Sundays”. It explains Sundays are family days. For the owner this is not a business. This is a living. The feeling that this is just an honest guy plying his trade is reinforced by the letter posted on the wall. It is from a customer that was so impressed with the food and service that they had to write the owner, Jamal to thank him.
Jamal was behind the cash when I was there. He was getting ready to close, but was happy to see one last customer. I guess he had put the spits of meat away for the night. He went in the back room to cut some for me. He heated it up by splashing some water on his grill and throwing the meat on for a few minutes.
While waiting for my “to-go” order to be put together I looked around the place. It was full of pictures of Lebanon. The news that day spoke of the Israeli Army laying siege to Lebanon again as (in the words of our own Prime Minister) Israel has a right to defend itself. I guess Lebanon has no right to defend itself then, I thought. Then my hunger pulled me away from politics and back to my food, which was now ready.
The meat was very good, tender, good cut and lots of flavour. The platter also included some rice and salad. The rice was nice, but I’ve had better elsewhere. The salad was ample and with a pleasing vinaigrette. The tabouli may not have had as much punch as most others. The hummus and garlic sauce also were a bit bland. It was a platter of fair, if slightly timid Lebanese food. I like mine full of flavours.
At the cash Jamal fumbled with the change for a second. He smiled and said “it’s been a long day”. I left 10 minutes before the place was meant to close. He turned off the “OPEN” sign when I went. I guess he had other places to go, to get home to the family.
This is far, far removed from the world of chain restaurants, a rare breed in our modern world. This is a shop where an honest guy has hung up a sign. For a few bucks he’ll cook you some good food. I’m sold.
# posted by Ottawa shawarma @ 2:01 PM 
Comments:
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Just had a bad experience @ Sahara Dune's, Nov 16, 2009
Here are the negatives:
-as I am paying, man (owner? name = Jamaal) didnt ask me what I wanted on my shawarma, a common courtesy found everywhere else..
-the portion size of the potatos (part of the combo) was WEAK, he asked if I wanted garlic, so he put a small amount, I had to ask him to put more..
-the shawarma size itself was small, and cold (not heat pressed like elsewhere)
The really negatives:
-potatoes tasted very very bland, so I went back and asked for some Hamus to be put onto the potatos... Man says "yeah, I"m gonna charge you for that".. to which I said, "umm, u charge for hamus (ie, to splash some onto the potatos)?"
-He says "well, yeah, you can't go eat, then come back, then eat, then come back again"
-I say in a stronger tone "umm, u know what? forget it... " as I walk back to my seat....
-He turns to his co-worker at cash and I hear him mumble "he wants to eat lunch and dinner at the same time"
-This ticks me off, so I say loudly, "is that what you call it? the portion is small to start with... go check some other shawarma restaurants buddy"........ and I walk out.........
So based on my experience here, I wont be going back, nor do I recommend the place to others....
Here are the negatives:
-as I am paying, man (owner? name = Jamaal) didnt ask me what I wanted on my shawarma, a common courtesy found everywhere else..
-the portion size of the potatos (part of the combo) was WEAK, he asked if I wanted garlic, so he put a small amount, I had to ask him to put more..
-the shawarma size itself was small, and cold (not heat pressed like elsewhere)
The really negatives:
-potatoes tasted very very bland, so I went back and asked for some Hamus to be put onto the potatos... Man says "yeah, I"m gonna charge you for that".. to which I said, "umm, u charge for hamus (ie, to splash some onto the potatos)?"
-He says "well, yeah, you can't go eat, then come back, then eat, then come back again"
-I say in a stronger tone "umm, u know what? forget it... " as I walk back to my seat....
-He turns to his co-worker at cash and I hear him mumble "he wants to eat lunch and dinner at the same time"
-This ticks me off, so I say loudly, "is that what you call it? the portion is small to start with... go check some other shawarma restaurants buddy"........ and I walk out.........
So based on my experience here, I wont be going back, nor do I recommend the place to others....
I go to Sahara Dunes regularly and have never had any problems. It is actually my favorite shawarma place in Ottawa!
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