Damascus Gate Restaurant

Delicious Middle Eastern option. Not much ambiance but food is so tasty. Be patient, all food scratch made with limited staff. Our party of four was one of only two tables seated on cold Saturday night but they were also moving a fair amount of carry out. Son ordered the vegetarian app sampler. I got the two children skewers, probably the best flavor I have have experienced with chicken. Wife and other son got the two skewer sampler and side of lentil soup. All included delicious hummus. All in all a good experience at a hidden gem on near south side.

Went to the Damascus Gate and I was glad I did! The building itself, aside from some reconstruction going on outside at the moment, is pretty spacious, atmospheric and pretty on the inside! The service inside was nice and quick, friendly, and git me my food soon after taking my order! Side food was really good! Falafel, meat and rice dish, hummus, and on a lessee note lentil soup amd bread were all tasty and at a good affordable price! Aside from the soup and bread JUST NEEDING to be a pinch better and the area the restaurant was in being a little shady, I liked Damascus Gate and would suggest giving it a try once if you're in the area! Video and Pictures are of the inside of the building, menu, and food I got!

While I have had the desire to visit this place for the last 8 months, it being listed on Milwaukee Magazines "52 restaurants to visit in 2020" moved it to the top of the list. Located in the historic section of Mitchell Street, you need to really look to find it. As I visited this restaurant at 3:30 PM, it was less than crowded. I was immediately seated, and some of the entrees were on display in a case, and also described by the waitress. I started with a Turkish coffee, and placed my order. About 20 minutes later the waitress apologized, and informed me that the kitchen's printer had malfunctioned and they had just received my order. In about 15 minutes I received my appetizer, the Spinach Fatayer, a type of savory tart with a filling of spinach. In another 10 minutes I received the Mixed Grill entree. A mix of a large Kefta Kabob and four pieces of grilled chicken, flanked by a roasted tomato and grilled onion, all set on a generous bed of saffron rice. A small salad, a small dish of hummus, and pita bread were included. Everything was incredibly fresh, hot, and well seasoned. At the close of the meal I commented to the waitress how much I enjoyed everything, especially the appetizer. She offered to get me samples of a couple of the appetizers that were off menu. I also ordered an order of grape leaves, and a dessert of Kunafa (baked sweet cheese) to go. At a sum total of less than $26.00, I will be returning.

Spectacular food and service! Ordered catering from here for my son's birthday after trying it at another party. Food was hot and came on time, was excellently priced, and the portions were incredibly generous (we have leftovers even after giving away multiple boxes of food). The food is amazing and delicious, so aromatic, and even typing this out is making me crave more! Meat was tender and juicy, rice was expertly seasoned, and the desserts were so good I forgot to take pictures. Owners and staff are so humble and it was a pleasure dealing with them for our special event. I 100% recommend them to anyone looking to try excellent middle eastern food, or to anyone looking to cater food for a party. Thank you from me and my family for an excellent experience on our son's very special day!

First coming in, it’s very welcoming. One of the few restaurants that offers orange soda!! Damascus Gate offered a large variety of food. They even made a custom order for me when I told them I wasn’t hungry. They served me the BEST DISH! It was so delicious, I had never tasted anything like that in my life. They had yellow rice underneath little chunks of mildly spicy chicken and strips of lamb (sorry about the picture, everybody dug in before I could get a good one haha) 11/10 would come here again. Service was amazing.

The restaurant lays in the heart of historic Milwaukee. It’s cozy, nicely decorated. When you enter the world of Damascus from the music to the pictures and the smell of delicious food. The owner welcomed us warmly and the service was very quick and nice. The Yalngi ( Vegan stuffed grape leaf) melted in my mouth and I didn’t even need to chew it. The Kebbah (a thin layer of bulgur stuffed with finely ground lean meat with Middle Eastern spices, then fried) reminds me with my mom’s Kibbah and there were the best I ever had in a restaurant. The Kabab, rice and hummus were yummy. This is the most authentic Syrian food I've had in a long time! This is a restaurant run by a person from Syria who still has the touch of true Syrian food. The taste and quality are unbeatable! Highly recommend to anyone looking for a good experience and soul satisfying food!

This is a beautiful restaurant with a very swet and humble staff BUT THE FOOD IS AMAZING! I always tell people there is something about cooking with love and this place does it and I'm so happy Milwaukee has such a unique and amazing place to provide it.

Holy moly, this place is amazing. Super creamy hummus, perfectly smoky baba ghanoush, crispy on the outside smooth on the inside falafel. You can tell they clearly care about their food! We split the appetizer tour (10 items) which is very reasonable for two people. Don’t miss this spot! Friendly staff as well.

Took a friend here for lunch and honestly we were both blown away by how flavorful and delicious this meal was. The protein was cooked perfectly, still juicy and seasoned so well. It's hard to tell from the picture but it's actually a ton of food. My favorite part was the little side of hot sauce-- it's decently spicy with tiny pieces of olives and pairs well with literally everything on the plate. The service was great, the owner was so nice and we got delicious red tea from him. Everything was so fresh. I will absolutely be returning.

Came here based on the good reviews. I agree with other reviewers saying it's probably better to do takeout from here. They have plentiful seating if you need it, but it's in a rougher part of town and the atmosphere could use a little face lift. Between two of us we ordered the hummus, chicken sandwich, and kefta kabob sandwich. All seemed very good and had good portion sizes. The hummus was different than any I'd had before. One thing to keep in mind that yogurt/milk is in every sauce they make (and that sauce is all over every sandwich) and it's not listed on the menu from what I remember. I have a dairy allergy and after ordering our food I found all this out, so now I'm writing this review with a bad stomach ache. Super disappointed. They really need to list that on the menu. Family owned and run business and the staff mostly seem friendly.

Damascus gate was on a 2023 list of places to try. Looking online they had a website but it's not working / maintained. I also saw on Yelp everyone saying to do take out. I didn't have door dash so I ordered in person. I walked past the cash a check business and under scaffolding and then realizing it was under the scaffolding. The door could use a clearer sign. I did see the giant health inspector "B" grade and panicked a bit. The one door didn't work either. I walked in and the place was absolutely empty at 6:30pm on a Thursday. The "deli fridge" had a plastic cup on its side and 2 chocolate cakes that were messily displayed. Seating wise this place has 5 tables of 10, so very good for groups. Overall slightly unkept. Some of the wall art is very crooked. Some of the chairs are folding chairs or different type than most. They didn't have a menu board but later saw the small menus to the side. I ordered. The staff member said 15 minutes. Exactly 15 minutes later I paid and got my food. During this time no one else came, even to pick up food. We got the hummus which was average. The pita that comes with it is thinner and as a result limper than one may expect, but no less tasty. The chicken sandwich and falafel sandwich are also great. They have a lot of meat, especially for the price. They also gave some extra sauces.

Load Arabic rap music greats you at the door. It's a large space with 3 tables taken, it looks empty but my wife discovered this from the Milwaukee magazine so let's try it. I've never had Syrian food. Did I mention the loud Arabic rap music? The hummus is garnish beautifully, it's fresh, the pita is warm and thin with that gooey consistency I like. The mix grill platter white meat chicken is tender, juicy, perfectly marinated. The kefta kebab is sausage like in a good way - it flows with natural juices of lamb and beef. You can taste the honesty of the meats. Our hot tea was ridiculously sweet it was literally having some tea with your sugar. Did I mention the load rap in Arabic?

I've visited a couple of times now, and the food is consistently delicious! They serve Syrian cuisine, and I love to experience food from other cultures, so this was right up my alley. On my most recent visit, my friend and I shared the Kefta Kabab, Mixed Appetizer Platter, and the Fatayer with Spinach. The Kefta Kabab, as well as their other sandwiches, are served wrapped in their shrak bread and grilled with fresh veggies. The Mixed Appetizer Platter includes their house made hummus, baba ghannouj, tabbouleh, mousakaa (made with eggplant), and fried kebbeh (stuffed with seasoned ground beef). The Vegetarian Mixed Appetizer platter swaps the kebbeh for falafel. The Fatayer, which they refer to as "fresh pies," can be ordered stuffed with cheese or spinach. The pastry is soft and fluffy, like a fresh baked pretzel but softer in texture. Every bite was delicious, and I will definitely go back! A heads-up that they currently have tissue boxes on the tables, instead of napkins. I went up to ask for napkins and he pulled out another box of tissue. I don't know if that is temporary or not, but if you don't see napkins available, use the tissue. The restroom did have paper towels for drying hands after washing, however. The service was great, and they had several carry-out orders while we visited, so that is an option for you, too. Their website is currently not working well, but their menu is on their Facebook page. Go visit them soon!

Damascus Gate has delicious food at a very reasonable price. We ordered the Vegetarian Mixed Appetizer, Fatayer Fresh Pies, Falafel Sandwich, and Mixed Fried Vegetables Sandwich for takeout and loved every bit of it! My favorite was probably the mousakaa. As for the fatayer, the cheese one was amazing and although I liked both I'd probably skip the spinach one next time. The service was great and the family that runs the restaurant really cares about giving their customers great food and a great experience. They accept credit card but prefer cash if possible.

Took my family for dinner tonight. We had the family meat platter and the appetizer sampler. There was so much food !!! we all had food to take home. It was amazing. Best Kofta We've ever had. We will definitely be back Make sure you get the house made hot sauce. I wanted to drink it!

Another bucket list item from pre-COVID days checked off. I never managed to get delivery from here during the height of the pandemic for some reason, although it exists. But dine-in is back, I'm vaccinated, and I've been restless to venture out of my regular stomping grounds so I wound up here. Damascus Gate would be a great place to bring a group because the appetizer section of the menu is the most extensive and there are a few samplers where you can get a little of everything. I was by myself so I got the mixed grill platter to try several items. It comes with a kefta and a chicken kebab, rice, (or fries, but rice) hummus, a small salad, hot sauce, and shrak bread. It was delicious and generously portioned. I liked the kefta kebab a little better than the chicken but they were both good. The star of the plate was that hummus. It was simple, creamy, tangy, and topped with olive oil. It was good with the bread and the meat but I kept eating it with the rice. Another reason to try the appetizer platter next time. The shrak bread was another star--thin, pliable but crispy in places, and a perfect accompaniment to the meal. I also tried the rose water mint lemonade. Ice cold in a glass, it would be the best thing on a summer afternoon. The meal was plenty filling but I regretted not getting a spinach or cheese pie to go. Maybe next time. This place has great food. I should have made it sooner.

Great authentic tasting Arabic restaurant! I ordered the Fatush and it was absolutely divine. Very close to the authentic kind you get in the middle east. I would recommend taking your order to go though, because our order took atleast 30 mins to show up. We also ordered a chicken sandwich which tasted wonderful! Recommend this place for good middle eastern takeout, but not for dine in for sure.

Outstanding! We have been ordering from a new place once a month during Covid. I wish I would have gotten takeout from here months ago. Truly the most fresh and interesting food thus far. We ordered the Damascus Tour, and it was enough food for almost three meals for the two of us. Excellent hummus and baba gannouj. One of my favorites, stuffed grape leaves were delicious and not too overstuffed. The falafel was our 8 year old's favorite, as were the green beans in olive oil with tomatoes. There were also some stuffed pies with cheese and spinach, both very good. Mujadarrah was a dish that I had never tried but the fried onions on top made it extra special. My husband loved the Kebbeh,which were fried with ground beef inside and a spicy sauce. My favorite was mousakaa, with its variety of veggies and flavor. I can't wait to order again. What a gem!

Left two entrées out of our takeout order. Recommend the spinach pie over the cheese. Get yourself an extra spinach pie.

I love this food so much. Damascus Gate is a hidden gem on Historic Mitchell Street. I had heard people rave about it on Yelp, so I decided to check it out. Boy oh boy, I am hooked. The hummus is so freaking good. I go for that alone! Everything else I have tried has been fantastic as well. Do yourself a favor and check it out!

Damascus Gate has been on my radar for a while, so when my mother suggested going for lunch I was on board, as was my BF. The atmosphere is pretty basic - bare bones, but that's fine. The pricing seems to have been increased recently and it wasn't terrible, but it also was not cheap. Service was extremely warm and friendly and a family affair, but don't think you're popping in and out for a quick bite here. Everything is home cooked and dishes come out one at a time as they get done. Plan on a leisurely meal. The food was superb. I need to especially call out the falafel, which might be the best textured I've ever had. I will hold all other future falafel to their standard. BF and Mom enjoyed their meat meals very much - each got a different combo plate. Mom and I both had plenty of food for another meal. My veggie combo plate was excellent.

Highlights/Lowlights 1) great, authentic Middle Eastern food 2) online ordering with delivery is available (3rd party service) 3) pita and hummus portions are large and shareable We ordered take out from Damascus Gate recently and we were really impressed with the food! We ordered the mixed grill platter which came with a chicken kabob and a lamb kabob with hummus, rice and salad. Food was great but I do wish we got a little more protein for the nearly $19 platter charge (just two kebobs). The hummus was really flavorful and a great value ($8 for a large very shareable portion). We also did a 12 piece falafel which was only $10, a great add on for a take out order for a group. The pita bread is more like a thin bread/warm tortilla, but SO good and really light to compliment the other heavier items. Only thing I would change is next time I will pick up from the restaurant myself or dine in instead of ordering through Eat Street as our order was about an hour late (NOT the restaurants fault).

3.5 Stars I was very excited to see Milwaukee open up a Syrian restaurant. I love trying new food! The restaurant was narrow yet spacious. There is a glass display case towards the back that show all the appetizers. It's great if you want to see a visual for what you'll be ordering especially if you're unfamiliar with the food. I ordered the falafel and the mixed grill platter. I thought the falafel could use more flavor/seasoning but I did enjoy the added sesame seeds on top. The mixed grill platter included a very generous portion of rice, 1 kefta kabab, 1 chicken kebab, half a grilled tomato, half a grilled onion, hummus, a cucumber tomato salad, and a side of tomato spread/sauce. The colorful rice tasted like plain rice, nothing special. I preferred the chicken over the kefta which took me by surprise (kefta was a miss for me) but the chicken was so flavorful! If you add the tomato spread, flavor explosion! That sauce is amazing and they should think about selling jars to take home. The hummus was also a favorite, so creamy and smooth. I also ordered a to go order for the man at home. To go I got the grilled meat platter: I was disappointed when I got home and only received 1 piece of pita (no where near enough for the hummus) and no red sauce (the best part!). Damascus is still pretty new and I would like to try them again in the future but I'm in no rush to return. I do recommend trying it out for yourself!

There are establishments where the food is so good, the staff knows they don't have to worry about providing top-notch service. Like the infamous TV Soup N-zi, they know that they could kick you in the groin when you walk in the door and you would still come, because the food. Damascus Gate is kind of one of those places - like, say, Anmol, one block down. They don't kick you, but the service is, well, not quite top-rate. Once the food comes, you don't care. And you shouldn't. It's about The Food. Come here.

I will definitely be back! High marks for both food and customer service! Very friendly staff! By far some of the best Middle Eastern food that I've ever had! The rice is phenomenal, really a great depth of flavor! I especially enjoyed the chicken as it was juicy and had great flavor from seasoning and grilling. The hummus and pita bread were some of the very best that I've ever had! The pita bread is likely homemade, it's very thin, light and has a great flavor. I regularly eat grape leaves but didn't care for these. There is a think sauce that coats the grape leaves that I didn't enjoy. Unlike many grape leaves they had a spicy kick to them. I was surprised with the prices and found them a bit high. However, I love supporting a local business and am willing to pay a bit more to help the business succeed. Bottom line: You should eat here!

We arrived a bit after 5pm on a rainy Saturday and we were seated right away. The place began to fill up soon after, but there's ample space for dining. We ordered the veggie sample platter that ended up being satisfying enough for the two of us. It was flavorful and the price was quite reasonable. I ordered some Turkish coffee to cap off the dinner. Close to the 19 bus line. Check it out.

I have been wanting the get over to this place because I love Middle Eastern food and I can remember when a Gyro or Kabab was as good as it got back in the day. It looks like that they have been open for about three weeks now and the menu prices and dishes have changed looking at previous yelp pictures so I will post current pics. The place has metered street parking which is 30 minutes for a quarter that was in front. The place looks clean/new on the nice side with nice color walls. The people were very nice/friendly who serviced me and the place was full at lunch time with all different people and were very welcoming. The menu has plenty of offerings but not so large and comes on one sheet, the mixed grill was my choice. The mixed grill hit the table and it looked amazing, better than previous posted pictures with a Kefta Kabab, Chicken Kabab, flat bread, salad, hummus, rice, grilled tomato/onion and a side sauce. I like plates like this with a little bit of everything that have different flavors/textures with warm and cold items complementing each other. The real test would be the white meat chicken kabab because people cook chicken to dry/done, nope the chicken was somewhat moist/tasty with a nice grill flavor. The Kefta Kabab was very good/tasty with the parsley, onions and garlic playing well together. The salad was chilled perfect and very refreshing. The hummus was also chilled and tasty. The one quarter of the flat bread was good but it left me wanting more to make little mixed sandwiches. The rice was perfect/tasty cooked al dente with separate grains, no mush or clumps at all. The little cup of sauce was also tasty which I spread on the flat bread for the sandwich. This was a very good/flavorful lunch I must say and I can see why all the tables were full. This restaurant is a great addition to the Milwaukee dining scene for sure so if you want to get out of blandville and into flavor town than stop over and give them a try.

Delicious, delicious, delicious! Had a wonderful lunch. Loved the food so much ordered kabobs to go. This family owned restaurant is a gem in the neighborhood. The warm and hospitable atmosphere makes you want to go back again and again. And the food is very affordable. Run, don't walk, to Damascus Gate!

Amazing. Probably the freshest and most delicious Mediterranean food in Milwaukee. The hummus was out of this world. The falafel was the freshest I have ever had. Brought the grill platter home for my son and he was raving about it. The tea was lovely. If you are craving for authentic and fresh middle eastern food, go there NOW.

Along with terrific food this restaurant also has a great mission to empower Syrian refugees so you can also feel great about eating here. I ordered a few things to nosh over a few days - mixed grill plate along with a half order of falafel. They encrusted the falafel with sesame seeds and they had just the right amount of salt. My favorite was the falafel along with the rice. The meat was great but I could just eat vegetarian all day there! Only disappointment was that guy who checked me out wasn't masked up but rest of staff was good. Next time I hope they have those tasty spinach pies available!

The food was amazing! The service was so kind and helpful! The ambiance was welcoming and inviting! 10/10!

Food was top notch. Ordered spinach pie, mixed platter and Muhalaya for dessert. Everything was well made and flavorful.

Excellent food! Best baba ghanoush I have ever had, hands down. Falafel was delicious. Highly recommend! Picture from a pre-covid visit over the winter

What is Syrian food? A mixture of goodness, that's what it is. A fusion of the cultures that settled in Syria, you'll see recognizable Middle Eastern and Mediterranean foods, such as hummus and kebabs. We started with the Baba Ghannouj appetizer and accompanied with shrak, my new bread-addiction, is delicious. I even asked for more shrak to take home with the leftovers and they happily obliged. I ordered the Kefta kebab sandwich and my friend ordered the grilled meat platter with fries. We basically had the same thing, where my sandwich was his platter contents wrapped up in the lovely shrak and with tahini dressing. What a delicious blend of flavors! The kebabs had a notable spice that gave the meal a good flare. My friend's accompanying salad to his platter was refreshing, but the fries were bland. It I were to rate this place solely on food, a definitive 5 stars. The place looks like it still has some settling down to do, with unhung picture frames around and the lack of decor. Service was also pretty slow. However, the food is sensational! Ba

Stooped in to grab dinner to go. Since I had never been I really wanted to sample a few items. So the mixed appetizer and beef kefta sandwich was a perfect choice! The restaurant is quite large with plenty of seating. There were a few tables filled at the time I arrived. I grabbed a menu and ordered at the counter in back. The staff was very friendly! The menu has great options to choose from. I waited about 15 minutes for my food which wasn't bad at all. I was so excited when I arrived home to check out all my delicious goodies. The sandwich was wrapped in a long piece of foil wrap. Each item in the appetizer came individually packaged. Let's start with the beef kefta sandwich. Very full of flavor! I loved it! The hummus was excellent with their flat bread. I even put some on the falafel. Falafel has a nice crispy coat on the outside and soft on the inside. It was good and the dipping sauce they served with it was excellent!!! A must have! Baba ghanoush was good, I prefer mine with a lot of garlic. Loved the eggplant dip that was amazing! The grape leaves were outstanding and the tabouli salad was different than any other I've ever been. It was more of a simple salad, very plain in taste. This was my least favorite of the appetizer. Overall, I would go back. Next time with a group of people so we can order some of their platters!

Really really great Syrian food! If you're in a rush, maybe skip this restaurant, as the service was extremely slow (but still very friendly!) The food, however, was excellent. I had the mixed grill plate, which comes witha kefta skewer and a chicken skewer - both excellent. I wish it came with more grilled veggies, as there was just a hunk of onion and a hunk of tomato, but they were great. You get plenty of rice, so the plate is extremely filling. You also get hummus and some bread, which is amazing. I ordered the kunafa for dessert, which was delicious! If you don't know what that is, please order it! It's an incredible middle Eastern dessert of soft cheese wrapped in crunchy phyllo and saturated with syrup. It came out nice and warm - so. good.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Milwaukee and now that I work down the street, I will be eating here more often. I have only ever gotten takeout and delivery, I haven't actually eaten in the restaurant itself. That being said, when I have picked up the food, I am always impressed by the warmth of the staff. Not only is the food delicious but there is so much of it! The portions the provide are hefty, and the rice makes for good leftovers. Here are my go-to orders: -Hummus. Ok seriously you can't go wrong with this hummus. It's flavorful, it's creamy, and there's never enough of it. -Baba Ghannouj. I think this eggplant based dish can very quickly become too smokey in flavor. However, Damascus Gate does it right. There is some smokiness but there isn't so much that it drowns out all the flavor. -Mousakaa. I could bathe in this stuff. It's so flavorful and even though it is super oily, it doesn't feel super heavy. If you don't like the smokiness of baba ghanoush but still want eggplant, this is the way to go. -Fried Kibbeh. Small balls of fried ground beef. This wasn't on my go-to menu list, but once I had it, there was no going back. -Tabbouleh. A great way to add a little green freshness to the meal. -Chicken and kebab skewers. Ok WOW these have so much flavor. If you are a meat eater, these both are a must. -Falafel- these sometimes can teeter on the dry side, but luckily if you add hummus/tahini/yogurt sauce/moussaka on top, they are good to go. This is a great place to go if you have a big group and want to share a bunch of stuff. Every time I have eaten here we just set everything up buffet style so everyone could add what they wanted. Works every time! Please go here. Please enjoy. And please tip them well! They deserve it!

My wife and I stopped in for lunch a few weeks ago, everything was outstanding! Our first time eating Syrian food and tried the sampler appetizers and had chicken with rice, we enjoyed our sampler and the chicken and rice I could eat every day! I would recommend stopping to enjoy fantastic food with great service!

We went for lunch; the inside is spacious and clean. I was surprised how full the restaurant became as we left. Our waiter was so sweet in answering all of our questions and giving us recommendations. A perfect of example of this us wondering what Turkish coffee was/whether we should order it, to which he told us it was like an espresso shot... but 10x concentrated. So naturally, we ordered it. It wasn't the traditional coffee I am used to. Think concentrated black tea. Kind of grainy, but definitely had me wired for the rest of the day. Also, kudos to the adorable tea cup set they use, because I felt like I was at a tea party in the best way. Now, for the important part: the food. We began with a flaky, cheese pastry. The waiter told me they made them all in house! I wish it was hot or came with some kind of sauce, but it was nonetheless, a yummy way to start the meal. I ordered a kefta kabob sandwich and a side of baba ghanouj. I wasn't a huge fan of the pita that came with the baba; I wish it was heated or toasted. I also could've asked but was too busy shoving my face with baba ghanouj. The baba ghanouj was smoky, creamy, and savory (more or less all I ever want from a baba ghanouj). With an exception of being savory, the kefta kabob sandwich contained that similar smokiness of the baba, but it meets you halfway with the crunch of the fresh vegetables inside. There was more than enough meat inside too; I could only finish half of it and saved the other half for the next day. Pro tip: Put your sandwich in the toaster oven to reheat. I will most definitely be back in the future to continue to explore their menu; I look forward to seeing the menu expand and for them to only get better! (Also: parking tip - Across the street from UMOS on 8th Street, the street parking is free.)

Great experience and delicious food. We ordered appetizer sampler- each item had a unique light twist on the classic that was a pleasant surprise. I have had many falafels, but this is by far one of the best ones- crispy on the outside, soft but not brittle on the inside. For our main course we had mixed grill, which was delicious as well. All food was very well seasoned. I wonder what is the red sauce that came with meats?

We had a fantastic dinner at Damascus Gate last night and can't wait to go back. Our group of four ordered the 10-dish appetizer "tour" and a grilled chicken entree and it was the perfect amount of food. The appetizers were delicious and most were vegetarian. The chicken was excellent as well and came with saffron rice. Recommended!

I particularly love their falafel wrap and stuffed grape leaves. Highly recommend, great service!

This is the best Middle Eastern restaurant in Milwaukee, none are even close. Syrian (obviously) family run with that wonderful Arabic-Muslim hospitality. In fact the atmosphere is so inviting I ended up talking with strangers at other tables, everyone had some recommendations. Maybe it's a little expensive but the quality is so much better than other Middle Eastern restaurants around here I don't think the prices are out of line at all. It's really spacious, which I like, I hate cramped "intimate" restaurants. The beautiful photographs of a peaceful Damascus from the past makes my heart break for the Syria of today.

So happy to finally have a pretty nice sit down place for halal Mediterranean food in Mke! Husband and I ordered the kibbeh and mixed grill platter with extra meat. The kibbeh were freshly made and oh my god melted in my mouth, they were absolutely delicious. The platter came with rice salad hummus and a piece of pita bread. I asked for a garlic sauce on the side. Most of the food tasted like legit Arab. Loved it! Still there are few items that I will not get again - their chicken - it was too sour for us. The garlic sauce barely tasted like it had garlic and the same with their hot sauce or tomato sauce that came on the side - it was too sour. I'm a huge fan of sour food but this was even hard to eat. I appreciate the family opening up this restaurant and I'm not going to let the few things that I didn't like to hold me back from coming here again! I'll be back here to try other foods!

My husband and I walked here on a beautiful evening from Bay View. It was about a 2 mile walk each way so we felt we earned our dinner! The appetizer sampler, falafel sandwich, and kebba sandwich were all recommended so we decided to give them all a shot. It was way a lot of food but now we both have lunch tomorrow too. The sandwiches were delicious; I loved the sauce and pickles on the falafel sandwich... which also came with a side salad. The restaurant was clean and service was very friendly. We look forward to coming back!

Super good food! First time ordering from them was last week with my family. They forgot one of the wraps I ordered, but were super sweet and apologetic about it. We ordered baba ghanouj, two kefta kebab wraps (only one came) and a chicken wrap. The food was absolutely amazing. I would go here for middle eastern food if you're in Milwaukee. The baba ghanouj was the best I've had in the city (not too smokey, not too overbearing, the perfect balance of flavor), and the wraps were amazing. I preferred the chicken wrap, but both were fantastic. No pictures because it was too tasty and didn't survive that long! 10/10 would recommend.

Damascus Gate - a hidden gem in the city! It was introduced to us by a few of our Syrian friends a few years ago, and honestly I have felt like a local food expert ever since! Every person who I've recommended Damascus Gate to raves about them! From ordering dinner for 2, or catering in for 15 people (back when group work lunches were a thing :(), Damascus Gate provides great quality, taste, and service! The location: It's actually quite a large space with lots of spaced out tables and high ceilings. Love the framed photos of monuments and gardens on the wall. Feels like a homey mom-and-pop restaurant that serves good and honest food! The food: My fave appetizers are the hummus and the kibbeh. Pro-tip: You can add meat to the hummus! Had this at a restaurant in Dearborn and honestly, it's such a simple idea and addition but really adds to the dish! Kibbeh - mmmm! It's basically like a croqueta made with bulgur wheat and filled with beef, onions, and spices! The spices are not spicy, but are really flavorful. When we've catered in the past, we got the mixed grill family platter, which was a big hit. It comes with meat and chicken as well as baba ghannouj, salad, and hummus. The beef and chicken kebabs were tender and moist. When you cater in a larger order, sometimes the kebabs, especially the chicken can get a little dried out, BUT NOT AT Damascus Gate! They are consistently perfect. Everything tastes and seems to be made to order. I've always had to wait about 10 minutes but honestly, for the quality of the food, it's definitely worth the wait. Damascus Gate is one of those ethnic restaurants in the Milwaukee food scene that makes me proud to call MKE home!

Amazing! Do you ever go on vacation and immediately start planning your next vacation? I ate at Damascus tonight for the first time and immediately started planning multiple future visits. We had the chicken sandwich, falafel sandwich, hummus and moussakka. Everything was wonderful - freshly made! Go! Go! Go!

The best falafel sandwich I have ever had. We also had the appetizer plate. Delicious! Highly recommend!

I almost didn't want to write a negative review for this restaurant because it is family run and I would like to see such family run, succeed. The reason I am writing this review is in hopes of them making improvements. I would not go back of course but I would recommend trying it. Grape leaves dish and thin naan/pita bread are worthwhile reasons to go for. I ordered the grape leaves and the platter combo of chicken and lamb. The restaurant was almost empty (only two people who were already eating by the time I went in). I had to wait for 24 mins for the food to arrive. As I was waiting, this is great, I thought to myself - this means they are actually cooking the lamb and chicken, after placing the order and I would get freshly made food. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. 1. The chicken literally tasted like plastic/gelatin combo. The texture was just like hard gelatin! And the chicken pieces were barely warm and got cold fast! (like it was probably briefly microwaved!). 1 star 2. The texture of the ground lamb was not as plasticy as the chicken. It was not a bad texture but not great either. This dish also, was barely warm! 1 or 2 star. This lack of a hot meal, after making me wait for 24 mins is what made me write this review. 3. The grape leaves dish was ok. I assume it is authentic tasting. I just don't know anything about this dish. It might very well be the best grape leaves dish in town! 3 or 4 star or maybe even 5 star. I was not a fan (I ate only 20% of the serving) but others might enjoy it. It is a must try here. 4. Their thin pita bread was actually quite good. 4 stars. It had been freshly cooked hot, I would have given it 5 stars. I went only because of the article in this month's Milwaukee magazine. As soon as I entered, I was greeted by a faintly stale smell. Typically, I walk out of a restaurant which has that kind of stale aroma. I stayed only because of Milwaukee magazine article. Next time, I will trust my own initial instincts and avoid eating at establishments that smell un-fresh. Service: I was served by a nice young woman. She was not obviously a trained server. She seemed like a traditional girl, who is just quiet and polite. Quite pleasant.

The food here is AMAZING. Was looking for somewhere to eat on a Saturday night for a group of 8 without a reservation on a Saturday night and we were so lucky to stumble across Damascus Gate. We called a few minutes ahead and they had our table set up and ready to go when we arrived. It's a family-owned restaurant based on empowering Syrian refugees and the service was so friendly and hospitable. We decided on the Mixed Grill Family Platter which was $70 and meant to feed around 6 people, and it was more than enough food for 8 people! This started off with hummus, baba ghannouj, fresh pita bread, and salad delivered promptly to our table. The salad was simple but excellent, with an olive oil and lemon dressing. We also ordered falafel for the table which was the best falafel I have ever had in my life - so insanely fresh, crispy, and flavorful. Couldn't get enough of it! Then came the star of the meal - an entire HEAPING platter full of yellow rice, topped with kefta (ground lamb and beef) skewers, grilled chicken, tomatoes, onions, and various sauces. We were seriously in awe, and it tasted even better than it looked. The chicken was the best grilled chicken I've also ever had and it was so juicy and tender. We also had some garlic sauce that we were all raving about because it enhanced the flavor of the platter even more. We ordered some desserts to go including the baklava and syrian rice pudding, which were really light and lovely. The baklava isn't as sticky as most others I've tried, and the syrian rice pudding is interesting because it has more of a yogurt-consistency. Left feeling absolutely STUFFED, happy, and thankful for our experience here. Will 100% be back here and would recommend anyone to give this place a visit!

Unbelievable. Can not wait to go back. The most flavorful, fragrant, & delicious Middle Eastern food we've had in Milwaukee. Thank you.

Wonderful, fantastic food! I cannot recommend it enough. I mean, EVERYTHING is good. The chicken sandwich, the hummus, their flatbread and the sauces; oh and the appetizers...superb. Could the service be quicker? Maybe. I don't care. You MUST check out this restaurant for the food obviously, but also to support a family owned business whose mission it is to assist refugees, etc.

The food was impeccable and as authentic as it gets. The family was so kind and sweet, and the portions were generous. Looking forward to coming back.

This place is awesome! They've got the best baba ghanouj I've ever had. The staff is friendly and welcoming.

This place was fantastic. It was so good I forgot to take pics of my food. We ended up getting a half size of the family platter (there were two of us) and, lemetellyou, it's a.lot.of food! We knew it would be but we didn't know, ya know? ;) #leftoversfordays It included: salad plate; pickled veggies small plate; baba ganoush plate; hummus plate; side of bread. That was the first part. Then we also received: delicious, tender chicken (my favorite) and tender beef kabobs on a bed of incredibly fragrant long grain rice speckled with golden raisins giving you a subtly sweet bite every now and then. Service was excellent. Maria was a great waitress! And they were accommodating and generous towards us. Stop by here and support a local place that is "more than a restaurant, it is a mission and vision."

We have a winner. Damascus Gate on historic Mitchell street is as good as it gets. The falafel was perfect, not too dry, spicy and sublime. The hummus was insanely good, the dolmas were complex and the fresh lemonade with rose was delicious. I've eaten there before and found myself justifying eating every drop and licking the plates. Congrats, Milwaukee! You have a stunning Syrian restaurant! Go.