Our Story, Told by Our Community: A Heartfelt Thank You
From the moment we opened our doors, we've been honoured to see our journey featured by news outlets and embraced in hundreds of thoughtful reviews. This post is our way of saying thank you, and a place to gather the voices that have helped tell our story.
December 9, 2025
More Than We Could Have Hoped For
When we first opened our doors, our greatest hope was simple: to be accepted. We dreamed of creating a small space where we could share the food of our home country and perhaps build a new life for our family. We never imagined the reality would be so much more. From our very first days, we have been humbled by an incredible wave of support, not just from the wonderful customers who visit us, but from local journalists, bloggers, and storytellers who have taken a genuine interest in our journey.
This support has meant the world to us, and we wanted to create a permanent home to celebrate and share it. This post is our tribute to the community that has embraced us, and a living archive of the voices that have so kindly helped to tell our story.
In Print and on the Page: Our First Features
It's a surreal and wonderful feeling to see your family's story printed in a local newspaper. We were honoured to be featured in publications like the Saanich News and to be recognized by Yam Magazine. These articles were so special because they shared our "why" with the community, telling the story of our journey before many had even had a chance to taste our food.
They helped communicate the heart of our mission: to share a piece of our culture with our new home. As we said in one of our first interviews, “we hope to give people a sense of our country's beauty when they come to eat here.” These stories helped us do just that.
A Visit from CHEK News
It was a truly special day when the team from CHEK News came to visit. Having a camera crew in our restaurant was a new experience, but it gave us a chance to share our story in a different way—through the sights and sounds of our kitchen. It allowed us to show the love and care that goes into every dish.
One of the moments that mattered most to us was when we had the chance to explain the heart of our cooking philosophy. As Safaa shared in the interview, “it’s not chefs who cook in the kitchen—it’s moms. So Mom cooks with care, with love, like they cook for their family. And that’s what we do here.”
You can watch the full story below.
From the Newsroom to Our Neighbours
While the features from journalists have been incredible, the feedback from our customers and neighbours is truly the most meaningful validation of our dream. The stories you share, the memories you make at our tables, and the reviews you take the time to write are the greatest rewards we could ever ask for.
We are completely humbled and overjoyed to have received over 1,000 reviews on Google with an average rating of 4.8 stars. Every single review is a reminder of why we do what we do. Here are just a few of the words that have meant so much to us:
“The hospitality was unmatched—everyone made us feel so welcome from the moment we walked in... We ordered a large variety just to try everything, and every single dish exceeded expectations—fresh, flavorful, and authentic. I’ll definitely be coming back again.”
- Muntadhar Jail
“Stumbled across Syriana and this spot blew me away. The cheese and olive fateyer were next-level, and the chicken shawarma was perfect comfort food. You can tell they put a ton of love into everything here. Definitely a must-visit every time I’m back on the island!”
- Jason Paul
A Place to Say Thank You
To every journalist, blogger, reviewer, and customer who has shared our story, thank you. Your support has been a gift, and it has powered us through every stage of our journey. We will continue to use this post as a living archive of our community's support, updating it as our story continues to unfold.
For now, we invite you to explore some of the stories that have been shared.
CHEK News: Years after fleeing Syria, Esquimalt family nears opening first restaurant
Yam Magazine: Victoria's Best Restaurant Award Winner 2024 - Best Middle Eastern or North African
Saanich News: Greater Victoria’s first Syrian restaurant opening in Esquimalt
Vic News: Greater Victoria’s first Syrian restaurant opening in Esquimalt
Nexus Newspaper: Camosun grad set to open Victoria’s first Syrian restaurant
HEAR FROM OUR COMMUNITY
4.8 STARS FROM OVER 1,000 REVIEWS
We are incredibly grateful for the love our community has shown us. We pour our hearts into every dish, and the feedback we receive is our greatest reward. Here is a taste of what our guests are saying.
Stumbled across Syriana and this spot blew me away. The cheese and olive fateyer were next-level, and the chicken shawarma was perfect comfort food. You can tell they put a ton of love into everything here. Definitely a must-visit every time I’m back on the island!
Jason Paul
Google Reviewer
What a fabulous find!... The place was simple and looked family run. They were so friendly and welcoming... The minced beef on the bread which looked like pizza was heavenly. I couldn't stop eating. The cherry on the top was Syrian coffee. Probably the best coffee I ever had.
Dipan Das
Google Reviewer
The hospitality was unmatched—everyone made us feel so welcome from the moment we walked in... We ordered a large variety just to try everything, and every single dish exceeded expectations—fresh, flavorful, and authentic. I’ll definitely be coming back again.
Muntadhar Jail
Google Reviewer