Mid Eastern lunch for group of 8 in Plano/Richardson

[ceekskat]

I've read several posts with people chiming in for Sheiks, Shine*, Ali Baba, etc. Out of town family (w/ parents) will be visiting cousins in Plano & may do a group lunch (incl. kids) nearby on a Saturday. Please advice with choices to suit our group. Need great lamb shawarma/gyros or kabobs (no beef), great veg. dishes (falafel, hummus, etc.), & reasonably comfortable area to sit. Family *ALWAYS* does Indian buffet, I am trying to steer them away.

*just looked at Shine's menu, doesn't look like it has lamb

Thank you!

[ceekskat]

Thank you all for your suggestions. For me, good lamb is a must for a Mid Eastern restaurant; therefore, I'll keep Afrah & Ali Baba in mind.

[irodguy]

Afrah has some good food and great pastries. If there are vegetarians you might actually think about Fadi's in Frisco.

[luniz]

a lot of the places here do beef shawarma rather than lamb. it's still pretty good.

for a group of 8, sheikh's is probably too small. i don't know anything about shine. i'd go with afrah, they have things like hamburgers or pizza type things for the kids (saw some arab kids eating hamburgers last time i was there :), can't really comment on the vegetables, surely i've tried the tabbouli but i can't remember whether it passed muster or not. the bread here's really good since they were originally a bakery and still bake everything daily, try the akawi pie. hummus is just hummus it can't be great. the lebnah was decent, not the best i ever had but at least they make it right. i think they have a lunch buffet.

i think ali baba also has a lunch buffet. but i've only been once and had the rotisserie chicken.

[ceekskat]

Thanks. We will have two vegetarians & three non beef diners (religious reason). Chicken is fine except in many of these places, I usually find them a bit dry & not as flavorful as lamb.

How's Afrah as far as atmosphere? I'm looking for casual, but not necessarily a fast food type place. Would love to know what's in the Ali Baba buffet...

[fishfry]

Ali Babba has a really nice lunch buffett. It looks like most everything on the dinner menu is on the buffett. OOPS I just reread your post. I don't know if Ali BAbba does a Saturday buffett. Check their website.

[luniz]

I don't think any of the Arab places do buffets on the weekend, now that I think about it. I missed that in the OP, my bad. Afrah's pretty laid back, a little loud, more diner/bistro than fancy restaurant. People sit outside and smoke the hookahs (maybe too hot now). Pretty Arabic crowds when I've been, families and such. Ali Baba's probably a bit more upscale-ish.

irodguy has a point about Fadi's, I've heard it's nice but I haven't been.

[kuidaore]

Shine's is more like a fast-food (or deli) type place and I wouldn't recommend it for a group lunch.

I don't think Ali Baba has a buffet on the weekend, but they serve lamb. I love their hummus, cauliflower and other veggie dishes.
Richardson Menu
http://www.alibabacafe.com/richard_in...

Afrah's buffet is rather small. Their baklava is the best in town!

To me, Fadi's is not Middle Eastern, but a health-oriented buffet (lots of veggies) with a Greek/Middle Eastern twist. Luniz, you probably wouldn't like it, knowing that you like more authentic Middle Eastern.

[kuidaore]

These are also in Plano.

Shandiz (Persian)
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/364544

Afgan Grill
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/483468

Taste of Galilee
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/459483