Al-Halabi Damascus, the best restaurant in the Middle East

If ArabianMoney was asked to nominate the best restaurant in the Middle East then the Al-Halabi in the Four Seasons Hotel in Damascus would be our choice.

This is where you would bring Gordon Ramsey to learn about how to cook Arabic food, but there is nothing he could teach head chef Mohammad Helal.

The setting is also perfect within the city’s leading hotel. The Al-Halabi is modeled on the classic Syrian salon with a wooden ceiling of exquisite craftsmanship though nonetheless calm and dignified to match its flawless service.

Gastronomic marathon

Relax and select a combination of dishes from the menu. This is just the start. The chef is always coming up with new dishes that he would like you to try, and this is a gastronomic marathon and not a light dining experience.

Actually the cuisine is from Aleppo, the second largest city in Syria. It features traditional Syrian mezze appetizers both hot and cold from old favorites like fattouch and stuffed vine leaves to something more original such as fried sausage rolls or sauteed mushrooms with lamb and bell peppers.

Every dish has some special twist by the chef that work to enhance the flavour. Main courses are also singularly excellent. The grilled lamb kebab in cherries stands out as a signature experience but then the lamb meat balls in yoghurt was also out-of-this-world.

Desserts to die for

However, you must save some space for the unusual desserts. We particularly liked the rolled local icecream with pistachio nut wrapping but then the traditional sweet Syrian pastries are magnificent. Try the Mamoul stuffed with pistachio and cinnamon or the fried oriental pancakes with Kishta and honey.

You are also presented with an extensive wine list, this being a part of the Four Seasons chain with a reputation for a fine cellar to maintain. Lebanese wine is the nearest regional option on the menu although the sky is the limit for red wine alternatives.

The nicest surprise is kept for the end of the meal when the bill arrives and it amounts to no more than the cost of a very average hotel restaurant in Dubai. For the best restaurant in the Middle East is also something of a bargain.