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Restaurant

Emad's Restaurant

298 Cleveland St, Surry Hills NSW 2010, Australia

Recommended by 10 people

Updated

Find Emad's Restaurant

298 Cleveland St, Surry Hills NSW 2010, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 2 9698 2631
HoursMonday: 5:00 – 10:00 PM Tuesday: 5:00 – 10:00 PM Wednesday: 5:00 – 10:00 PM Thursday: 5:00 – 10:00 PM Friday: 5:00 – 10:00 PM Saturday: 5:00 – 10:00 PM Sunday: 5:00 – 10:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Emad's Restaurant

Operating on Cleveland Street since 1964, Emad's serves timeless Lebanese banquet feasts in a relaxed, tapestry-lined haven. Diners lean into multi-course spreads that arrive quickly, starting with smoky baba ghanoush, lemony tabouli, and warm flatbread before moving into spiced lamb-stuffed vine leaves, crisp falafel, and tender shish tawook skewers. Welcoming staff look after large celebratory groups and casual duos alike, accommodating vegetarian swaps and pouring BYO wine while Arabic music hums in the background. The spread wraps up cleanly over crisp lady fingers and baklava.

  • Traditional Banquet Feasts: Generous multi-course set menus load tables with house dips, cabbage rolls, stuffed vine leaves, and charcoal-grilled skewers.
  • BYO-Friendly Dining: Guests can bring their own wine and beer to accompany family-style feasts and private celebrations.
  • Cleveland Street Heritage: Serving Surry Hills since 1964 with home-style hospitality, textured fabrics, and Arabic music.
RestaurantLebaneseRestaurant

What's On at Emad's Restaurant

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Dine at Emad's Restaurant

Discover why guests choose Emad's for classic Lebanese feasts, private celebrations, and authentic heritage dining.

  • Multi-Course Banquet Spreads

    Multi-wave banquet options provide an abundant spread of authentic dishes without the friction of individual ordering.

    We would highly recommend the banquet menu for a taste of everything.

    Maz Mirza

  • Generous Portions for Shared Dining

    Banquet menus comfortably accommodate diverse dietary preferences and group appetites with generous portions.

    Ordered the Banquet Menu for the two of us and it was overflowing with deliciousness.

    Beau Ushay

  • Private Space for Group Celebrations

    A dedicated private room and accommodating dining space provide an easy venue for birthdays and milestone gatherings.

    Had my 21st birthday here in the private room. The food was delicious. The staff were lovely and very helpful. The interior design is very cool and authentic. BYO drinks was great.

    melody gray

  • Flexible BYO Drink Service

    Guests can bring their preferred wines and drinks, pairing seamlessly with set feast options for celebrations.

    BYO was allowed and I always enjoy the food from here :)

    Kirsten

  • Atmospheric Cultural Decor and Music

    Atmospheric textured decor, rich tapestries, and traditional Arabic background music create a transportive dining retreat.

    the cultural ambience in decor and music tasteful and the whole experience, a delight!

    Rachel Todd

  • Time-Honoured Heritage Recipes

    Decades of Lebanese culinary heritage deliver authentic home-style recipes prepared with consistent care.

    If you're looking for an authentic home cooked Lebanese meal, Emad's in Surry Hills is the place to be!!

    Phillip H

Most-loved classic Lebanese dishes and banquet centerpieces

  • Skewers

    Best lamb and chicken skewers and they go lovely with the bread.

    Kirsten

  • Tabouli

    The babaganoush is sensational, the kofta is moist and seriously tasty, and the tabouli is amazing.

    Maz Mirza

  • Hummus

    The hummus, baba ganoush and tabouli were a particular highlight.

    Beau Ushay

  • Fried cauliflower

    the cauliflower (fried, served with tahini sauce) is a precious delight, with a lemon zing that will make your tastebuds explode with joy.

    Zuleyka Zevallos

  • Baba ganoush

    The babaganoush is sensational, the kofta is moist and seriously tasty, and the tabouli is amazing.

    Maz Mirza

  • Falafel

    The skewer plate and the falafel were both delicious - highly recommend.

    Elle

  • Kibbeh

    Finely-minced lamb, onion and pine nut kibbeh, flaky spinach pie, and felafel dabbed with tahini and dusted in sumac arrive next.

    Jackie McMillan

  • Stuffed vine leaves

    Rice and lamb mince-stuffed vine leaves and cabbage rolls are your must-eats here, and arguably the best versions of each dish I’ve tried.

    Jackie McMillan

Other favorites

Traditional pastries, sides, and authentic beverages to complement your meal

  • Lady fingers

    Stand out dish was the "lady fingers".

    David Cheang

  • Coriander potatoes

    We got fattoush, coriander potatoes, fried cauliflower and the skewers and everything was sooo yummy.

    Rhonnie

  • Spinach pie

    Finely-minced lamb, onion and pine nut kibbeh, flaky spinach pie, and felafel dabbed with tahini and dusted in sumac arrive next.

    Jackie McMillan

  • Lebanese beer

    All the produce here is fresh, each dish has its own unique flavour, that makes you want to go for another bite, also first time having a Lebanese beer, would recommend.

    Phillip H

Beyond the menu

Above-and-beyond hospitality and distinctive cultural touches experienced by guests

  • Thoughtful Rain Care for Guests

    When dining on a rainy evening, staff took a damp and cold jacket into the kitchen to dry it for a guest celebrating a birthday.

  • Vegetarian Banquet Flexibility

    The kitchen easily tailored banquet courses on the spot to cater for a vegetarian dining partner sharing a set menu.

  • Live Belly Dancing Performances

    Evenings feature live belly dancing performances, bringing traditional entertainment directly into dining celebrations.

  • Private Room Bookings for Milestone Celebrations

    Functions and 21st birthday parties can reserve a dedicated private dining room with authentic decor and BYO drinks allowed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you bring your own drinks (BYO)?

Yes. Guests frequently bring their own drinks and wine, and there is a bottle shop conveniently located down the street.

What do the banquet menus include, and are vegetarian options accommodated?

Banquet set menus are available in several tiers and provide generous spreads of traditional dips, salads, pastries, stuffed vine leaves, and meat skewers. The kitchen is also happy to accommodate vegetarian diners within set menus.

Should you make a reservation, and is there private group dining?

Yes, reservations are recommended, and the restaurant features comfortable seating alongside a private room suitable for birthdays and group gatherings.

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