Sanafir Mediterranean Restaurant in Orillia

A great shame this place will soon be missing from the Orillia dining scene. Lovely mix of Egyptian, Morrocan and Tuscan dishes and a hummus that has some kind of magic done to it. Small selection of wines but they match well.

I had the chicken shawarma. It was delicious and plentiful and served with a nice salad. Highly recommend. I ll go again if I m in Orillia.

Great food and service. Sammy is an amazing chef and very friendly.

The food was basic and the shawarma chicken seems like out of a frozen box. Salad and rice was good to balance the dish. One person running the place, friendly and welcoming.

Great food, great location, and great atmosphere

The food was amazing! The ambiance was wonderful! Sam hosted a great experience for us, cherished memories made!

The meat pastry was delicious. When we asked the owner whats the real name of the dish, as we were hoping to look for it in other restaurants in the future, he proudly told us that he came up with the recipe himself. Its a must if you ever this restaurant.

I did not find my spaghetti bolognese very flavorful, but I enjoyed it anyways. It was heavy on the meat without having much sauce, it seems, though that could also just be the style of the recipe.

The chicken shawarma dish is really good

Yum! Falafel platter with mushroom lentil ragout qas bursting with flavour, so delicious. And good red beer to wash down too. And friendly service!

The Owner is an absolute gem So friendly and welcoming and the food is top notch Food

This restaurant is a must visit whenever we are in Orillia, authentic and delicious cuisine

Kid-friendliness: We were fortunate to be treated by the host and owner. We passed twice and saw how pleasant and peaceful the atmosphere was, so we had to stop. He treat everyone of all age with the same respect, from kids to adults. He was pleasant, patient and calm. You would have no idea he was the owner. He was very informative and definitely catering. The food was definitely delightful and surprisingly different... His twist on shawarma... wow. Definitely different, but definitely a compliment. It was a belly full for everyone and absolutely delicious. Well balanced. If your looking for the everyday poutine, hamburger or pizza flavour... this is not for you. But if you can appreciate, culture, difference and flavour... I definitely recommend. Good job Chef . We look forward to dining again, soon .

First time trying this place today, we absolutely loved it! Delicious and healthy. We will be coming back!

I wish I started coming here earlier, great cuisine is hard to find in Orillia! The fava bean dip and hummus was delicious. Food : 5/5

Absolutely delicious! Morrocan chicken was amazing and the shawarma melts in your mouth. We have this place marked to come back to. Gluten friendly!

Always a pleasure going to this restaurant. Everything on the menu is delicious. Service is always welcoming.

Our first time there, loved the food and the friendly atmosphere. We are making this cute friendly place our go to place

Heard of Sanafir from Juta who highly recommended it. Did not disappoint. Moroccan chicken and the Beef Shawarma platter were excellent. Nice and quiet place for a peaceful meal. Now recommended by us.

For the quality of the food it was subpar. The staff were great but slow service. The food was warm and not a true shawrma platter. We are Lebanese, so it was disappointing.

Unbelievably great fare. Excellent service. Very friendly and personable owner. Probably our favorite restaurant. Never disappointed.

Amazing sevice, great food. Nothing bad to say. Everything was great.

The food is always great and the people are always so friendly! I would highly recommend anyone looking for dinner to come here!

Delicious must try

What an amazing meal. Lots of great flavours . Had the chicken shawarma platter and the Moroccan chicken. Will certainly recommend to all our friends.

Wonderful energy of owner/chef. You can feel his passion and love for what he does. Food was tasty.

Have heard and read about this place for awhile. My wife and I came up from Barrie and ate lunch here today. We were extremely pleased with our meals. We both ordered different dishes and loved the many flavours. The saffron rice was excellent, tabbouleh salad was made fresh and may have been the best we ve had, chicken shawarma was very flavourful and the beef pastry dish I had was delicious and I wish I d order more to take home. We both have eaten in restaurants around the world and love Middle Eastern cuisine.This meal lacked nothing and measured up with the best. On top of that the chef/owner was inviting, warm and friendly and a pleasure to talk. We ll be back.Soon.

The hummus is legit!!!! Sooooo good I would bath in it!!!!! Vegetarian options: My wife loved the falafel and lentil mushroom side dish Food : 5/5 |

The steak is too thin and dry and the portion of meal is way too little. Food dont worth its price. Good service and decoration tho

Sanafir is, with out a doubt, our new favourite restaurant!! I stopped in for a quick lunch several months ago on my own and the fennel salad with a side falafel was SOO delicious Ive been telling friends to go and wanting to go back myself. My daughters met me in Orillia for my birthday lunch and decided on Sanafir. Everything we tasted was absolutely wonderful!! So much flavour!! My daughter from Toronto said it was the best falafel shes ever tasted!! The beef cauldron, (served in a little black cauldron!) was thick with tender brisket, vegetables and flavours I had the Egyptian 5 spice steak . Im not sure what those 5 spices were but I enjoyed that steak like no other steak Ive eaten!! The rice was even beyond good! All 3 of us are thinking ahead to the next time we can go to Orillia and Sanafir! I have no idea why the place wasnt packed out with reservations - it should be! If I could give it 6 s for food I would! I dont eat in fast food restaurants, I enjoy well prepared meals and chef Samir knows how to provide just that!! He is also a delight table side. He clearly loves to see people enjoy his creations. Oh, did I mention the hummus was 2nd to none? Im sitting here drooling at the memories and cant wait to return! I wish I had pictures, we were too focused on enjoying the culinary delights to even think about it Next time Ill take pictures!

Great service, fresh Home made meals. We loved that the menu had healthier items available. The hummus was incredible!

The best falafel that I have ever eaten. The right mix of crunchy on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside. Try the baklava for dessert.

Delicious food and excellent service. Delightful!

Driving through Orilia and found this Gem ! True home cooked meal, the food was amazing. Service was amazing. Chef/ owner Sam very hospitable and welcoming. Would definitely recommend.

We had the Mustard Beef Cauldron and the shawarma platter. The food was so good. The flavour was delicious, food hot, and the safiron rice was fantastic!! The owner and chef was so knowledgeable and friendly. This restaurant deserves a 10/10!!! I hope to be back again!!!

This little gem of a place was a wonderful find in our travels and would make us travel back this way again. The mustard beef cauldron was decadently flavoured with amazing saffron rice on the side, along with the shawarma platter exceeded all expectations. So so friendly staff (hi Sam!)genuinely happy and accommodating and went out of his way to make us feel welcome. If I could give more stars I would.

Amazing food. Don t be fooled by the simple Looking menu, the food is simple and tastes incredible. I believe the owner is the also the bartender and cook and server and he was great!!! 10/10 would recommend

Fantastic service! Great music playing and very welcoming and accommodating. The food was delicious. I will be back next time I am in Orillia!

On my way to huntsville I stopped by this little hidden gem. Everything tasted great. Looks like they make everything from scratch. Highly recommend.

Awesome place. A great spot to support local and delicious food (and much healthier than the pubs in the area). I ve eaten here twice and had amazing meals both times, as did the people I came with. Portions are very filling. The owner is a highlight - such a gem. Highly recommend. We will be regulars.

Food was delicious and Sam was fantastic. Highly recommend

The food was amazing. No presentation gimmicks.. Descent price.. Definitely worth trying once.

Food was incredible! Best shawarma I ve ever had.

The food is amazing and service is just as good as the food. I had the shawarma chicken platter and it was made with a rich creamy and delicious sauce served with a side of couscous and pita bread, I can say this was one of my all time favourite Mediterranean restaurants!

We went the for the first time on a Saturday night. Great value for exceptional food. Best falafel I have ever had. Prompt and friendly service. Local beer options available and tasty house wine. Vegetarian options: Falafel; Nightly Special Dietary restrictions: Vegan

My wife and I hadnt been to this restaurant for several years. To begin with the server told us that there are days that they have no customers??? This was worst dining experience ever. I ordered the chicken shawarma dish; rice was hot, chicken ver cooked (was probably sitting in a pan all day) and pita were cold. The sauce applied to the chicken which is a cold sauce should be served on the side. My wife had a fish dish (bass) which was over cooked and tasteless. I did have a soup as starter which was fair. The owner came to the table 3 times; once to welcome us, second to check on how the food was and last as we were leaving wanting allcolades. He was very annoying! My wife could see through to the kitchen and he seemed to hover over the chef (cook) and one server working for him. Theres absolutely no ambience. Not recommended!

Was ok... but nothing to write home about, especially for the price

Come here everytime were in town. Food is very fresh, filling, and tastes delicious! The owner is extremely friendly and is clearly working hard to make each visit memorable. Cant recommend this place enough, one of the best restaurants Ive been to.

The food was delicious and loved the ambiance.

Best falafel around! 10/10 recommend, we will be back to dine in!

Delicious authentic food and warm friendly service!!

Skip the shawarma, go for the falafel. The falafel easily rivals and comfortably beats the Egyptian breakfast place in Toronto that people line-up hours and hours for. Crispy on the outside and so cloudy and soft on the inside - its perfect. Must try for sure! The chicken shawarma is just okay.

Sanafir does not dissapoint. I have many dietary needs and Sam was so accommodating. My partner loves all the dishes at Sanafir and we go ther all the time.

We had the vegetarian cauldron and a couple of felafel each for lunch with some herbal tea. Absolutely delicious. The eggplant option for the cauldron was in the most delicious sauce!

The atmosphere is great along with the Mediterranean music. We were there for lunch and had a really good cab sav (wine) not sure what the wine was but it was great! The chicken schwarma plate was tasty along with the Moroccan chicken. Really flavorful. The waiter, could be the owner? Was exceptional. Topped it off with baklava, which was done to perfection. Really relaxed atmosphere. Will definitely go back.

Best falafel and baklava, ever!

Great food and the owner is super nice! We really enjoy going here.

Great great food! Owner was there on a (Easter) Sunday cooking up great food! Personal touch, can taste the love!!!! Recommendation for vegetarians Highly recommend

Food is amazing! Atmosphere is excellent

Fantastic little spot that is chef owner & operated :) great craft beer selection and a delicious menu

My new favorite restaurant !! We were a group of 8 on a recent Saturday night. All agreed, everything ordered including the chicken shawarma, Moroccan chicken, falafel and the baklava were all incredible! The owner was very welcoming and happily accommodated us with a special steak dinner for one of us with allergies. Great atmosphere and can t say enough good things about the taste and quality of their dishes!

Thank you so much Sam for the excellent service and food. We had the shawarma plate and the chicken. My family and I enjoyed it very much!

Fantastic authenic food!!!

Beyond excellent and flavourful food. I highly recommend eating here. Your tastebuds will thank you! The owner was very kind and delivered a friendly atmosphere and great service.

We ordered the Chicken kabob main dish with raisin rice and vegetables (shared between 2, we werent too hungry and this was more than enough for both of us). The meal was amazing. Customer service was second to none. Nut-free restaurant too!

We ate outdoors and enjoyed the surrounding atmosphere. All of the food was absolutely perfect!! Meeting the chef and owner Sam before eating added to the fantastic experience. Sam is a very proud man and that was reflected by how everything was cooked perfectly. He also checked back with us during and after our meal. Brian , Maryanne, Jamie and Barb from Kingston highly recommend this restaurant and we will see you next time we are in Orillia Sam!

Wonderful food and service!!

The food was superb. Highly recommend this place if you are in the area. Food

Fabulous food! We had the lentil soup, tabouleh salad, and Moroccan chicken, and every dish was the best food weve had in a long time. The spices were delicious, and the texture of the tabouleh salad was perfect. Everything came our hot; no warmed over food is served here!

The most amazing experience! So glad I found this gem - it s my favorite restaurant now! The best falafel I ve ever had. Loved the authentic atmosphere and hospitality. The food was absolutely divine! Every time I go to any other restaurant in Barrie of Orillia, I feel disappointed. Sanafir is the first place in the area that left me genuinely impressed and excited to come back. Prices are more than fair, food is incredible and it s not something I know how to make at home. Most importantly for me - it s delicious, clean and healthy. Additionally, I need to highlight the Owner Sam. Sam is a professional chef with decades of experience. I like to watch cooking shows and competitions. And Sam is a kind of chef that can win a Michelin star. It s extremely rare in this area. Feeling super lucky and can t wait to come back. Beyond grateful for outstanding quality!

Total disaster.. none of the dishes recommendable. Place is not clean and chef is the only staff, cooking & serving. Total disappointment.

Nice quiet place to eat. The falafel here was the best I have ever had! Owner was very pleasant. Looking forward to eating here again.

Sanafir is wonderful! The owner Sam is such a kind and lovely man! The food is delicious! He s very good at accommodating dietary needs. My 10 month old also loves the Shawarma platter! Highly recommend it! Dietary restrictions: I brought a cousin who is dairy and gluten free there a different time, and he was able to accommodate her no problem!

One of the lowest quality food Ive ever experienced.

The food is really good. I like this place a lot. Friendly service and good ambience. We will definitely be coming back! Parking: Parking is plentiful and free on Sundays and Holidays. Wheelchair accessibility: Large entrance.

First time eating Mediterranean food Outstanding, the best meal I have had in a very long time The chef and staff are so welcoming , my compliments to the chef!! And thank you for opening this wonderful restaurant in our town!!

Absolutely fantastic restaurant. But to be missed. Their Beef cauldron was unbelievable - beef melts in your mouth. Meat pastry was very flavourful and so were the shawarma platter and Moroccan chicken. Not to be missed! We are definitely coming back

Sanafir s food is world class. My wife and I have been to Middle Eastern Restaurants in that region and on several continents; and the food at Sanafir is one of the best. We shared the falafel platter and shawarma platter. Every time was a delight. We kept remarking how layered the tastes and textures were. Sam is an excellent chef, the service is friendly, and we are excited to return when we visit Orillia again.

Food was excellent with generous servings. I had beef and sauce wrapped in pastry (forget the dishes name) and it was delicious!! Green salad was fresh and crispy. And rice light and perfectly seasoned. The waitress was friendly but maybe she had just started and didnt know the menu too well so couldnt answer questions without going to the back to check. Atmosphere was okay, the table was really wobbly so my sister put some napkins under one leg.

Excellent food, friendly service, this place makes you feel like a regular the first time you come in

This place looked cozy from the outside, but in reality it was just dark and hadnt been thoroughly cleaned in far, far too long. The food was simply not good -- not worth the price, thats for sure, but also just not worth eating. The bathrooms were mildly harrowing. I can say that the service was very friendly, but we also waited a very long time to even have an opportunity to ask for the bill.

Delicious food and great service! The Sanafir salad and shawarma were both amazing. Food : 5/5

I really wanted to give more. But it was very dirty place. On my to washroom I saw the kitchen and it was a disaster. Awfully dirty. I got small spider in my water cup, too. Food was ok but not very authentic. Pricy place as well.

Food is incredible. The freshness of the ingredients in these authentic recipes makes this place the best place to eat in town.

Nothing to write home about. Visited for lunch on Wednesday, October 25th. The place is situated on the main drag (Mississauga St) in the heart of Orillia. Walked into a ghost-town. The place was dark at 11:50AM, and all of the tables were empty. The man working was pleasant enough. I ordered Chicken Shawarma. About 10 minutes later it arrived. It was (temperature) hot, and the food was aesthetically pleasing. That s where it ends. Unfortunately. The food was bland, oily, and underwhelming. The Chicken was fattier than it should have been for the price. The service was non-existent. The man working spent 25 minutes behind the bar on his phone. I completed my meal in about 15 minutes and after waiting 10 minutes for my check, completely un-noticed .I stood up, walked my plate and can to the bar, (he set his phone down just long enough to struggle to make change), and I left. It 30 years of dining out regularly .I have NEVER not left a tip, until this visit. Under no circumstances would I return. Too bad .it looked promising.

We had the vegetarian cauldron which was a chick pea potato stew served with fragrant rice. The stew came in a bubbling cauldron, so hearty and savory. Great, easy jazz playing, cozy, quiet atmosphere. Food

Wonderful food, excellent service.

Good food and service was great

Absolutely delicious! Everything you want from a Mediterranean restaurant. We will be going back

cozy and inviting, fast friendly service, the food was absolutely DIVINE! best Mediterranean food I have ever tasted! I cant recommend this place enough, you will NOT be disappointed. Looking forward to going back soon.

Sanafir has the freshest Mediterranean food I have ever eaten. The falafel is amazing and the hummus with zesty lemon is so yummy. You wont be disappointed!!

We loved the atmosphere of the old building and the owner was wonderful! Big portions and the best falafel!

Best falafel I ever tasted

Amazing, flavorful food; and kind, friendly people!

Great little restaurant with delicious Mediterranean cuisine! Owner super friendly Portions were generous and good for sharing We had the mustard beef, beef pastry patty and chicken shawarma

The service was excellent and the food was great!

amazing food, amazing service, excellent live music!! falafel is a 12/10, best Ive ever had :)

We have found our new favourite restaurant! The food was amazing; The flavours, the portions, the presentation - wow! The atmosphere was super eclectic, cozy and authentic! We felt super welcome by the owner and could see the passion that he brings to his establishment! We cant wait to dine there again!!! Thank you for an awesome lunch!!!

Excellent food and service! Mustard beef Calderon is to die for!

Just had the best Steak dinner! Spiced to perfection and cooked to my liking. Owner is amazing and really knows his food!

Great food, better service. Highly recommended

Excellent food. Great place, owner was very nice. Ill be back.

4* for the falafel. They were very flavourful! It comes with tahini/hummus that has a nice acidic taste to it, along with what they call a lentil and mushroom ragu which is really just some tasty lentils. 1* The shawarma was terrible. Meat felt a little slimy and the whole dish overall was very bland. I hope this was just a one time situation. 5* They are celiac friendly and have a separate fryer for the falafels and most of their items are gluten free! The owner is very proud of his food and is very accommodating.

Two for lunch on a very quiet Saturday the owner, Sam, greeted us cheerfully and described his dishes as Egyptian. This was a novelty for us so we ordered lentil soup and a tasting dish including souvlaki, rice, salad, pita and hummus. Every single dish was delicious! The lentil soup was easily the best ever, apparently from his mother s personal recipe. The souvlaki is made there from scratch with a spice unique to the country. The salad had a delicious dressing. The rice, also authentic, was fragrant with saffron. A local craft beer on tap married well with the dishes. All this was very decently priced as well. This experience made us both wish we could be there for supper too, and we will definitely make our next meal there when we go back to Orillia. It s worth the drive from Mississauga!

We went there on April 1, looking for real food for lunch, so we decided to try this Mediterranean restaurant, and it did not disappoint us. I asked for a Shawarma Platter and my husband asked for an Egyptian 5 Spiced Steak and it was so good

Ordered baba ganoush and 4 main items for take out. For the price I was paying, I really expected something of higher quality. The bread was just store bought bread, the rice tasted stale. The fish (Mediterranean bass) is just rebranded batter fried fish, not grilled. Their falafels are extra large in size, but were actually uncooked and mushy in the middle. The baba ganoush serving is tiny. I really wanted to like this place, but for now osmows is my my best Mediterranean food in the area.

Fantastic lunch today at Sanafir! Owner Sam is a legend in the hospitality and restaurant business before he started Sanafir. His passion and experience with ingredients and cooking are apparent. We had the mustard beef stew, chicken kebabs, babaganoush, and lentil soup and finished everything to the last bite. Will definitely be back!!

Very good food. 10/10

Personal service by the owner gives a personal touch to the food. Delicious and fresh. Always happy to see us.

Relaxing atmosphere, excellent hospitality, and beautiful Mediterranean dishes! The overall experience was very pleasant and we especially enjoyed our meaningful conversation with Sam (the owner) and one of his regulars. Be sure to try the baklava for dessert... you wont be disappointed!

Had a wonderful dinner here. The food, the atmosphere, the service -- all made for such a pleasant experience. Cant say enough about the steak - so tender, so juicy, so beefy (dont be put off by the spices, they are extremely subtle). The Moroccan Chicken dinner was also superb - tender and tasty.

I enjoyed the Moroccan chicken and a pot of tea after a nice walk along the Orillia Waterfront and a nearby walking trail. Also, very friendly service.

Great food. Just back after 3 years. It was even better!!! Highly recommended! The falafel is second to none!

The steak was really good. Ordered Tea, but was not as we expected.

The best Shawarma I have ever had!

Food Wes good service was okay.

Good food, well prepared and very tasty. Love the spice and flavor on the steak, owner Sam is very friendly. We will definitely coming back to this restaurant and highly recommend to friends when visiting the area.

Great lentil soup and the bass was delicious too. My husband enjoyed the mustard beef cauldron. If youre looking for something different and flavourful, try Sanafir. We were also treated with the music of a flutist and guitarist.

Best shwarma plate i ever had. I didnt know that Osmos and other places like that are like the fast food version of Mediterranean cuisine. This place was wonderful

Falafels were raw, uncooked inside Rice was greasy Salad was soggy Restaurant didn t look clean

Really good lentil soup!!

Not halal as advertised online. But the staff was kind and honest and offered vegetarian options. Thank you.

Never again

Stopped by for a lovely lunch. The food was truly authentic and tasty and the owner and staff were friendly and helpful. I would recommend the hummus appetizer, the Moroccan chicken, the chicken shawarma, and baklava for dessert, which is what we had. Everything is a little different than in the Mediterranean restaurants in the city, in a good way!

Sam is a wonderful host. Weekends feature music. The shawarma is super flavourful and my mom had the bass. Dessert was baklava! It was a wonderful meal!

we showed up close to closing but they seated us and served us quickly. served delicious food hot and fresh and did not rush us. it was a special dinner for us and we loved the jazz music. I wish we could have stayed longer but we knew we had come late so left as soon as we finished. we are from out of town and will make sure we go back. best falafel Ive ever had.

Owner is really nice, food is ok

The hummus was watered down and the pita stale. The booth tables were so sticky it was discussing.

They did catering for my engagement party (around 100 ppl). It was delivered on time, fresh, and delicious! If youre looking for great Mediterranean food in Orillia, this is the place. We will definitely come back to eat at the restaurant too!

Stopped for lunch on our way to North Bay; we did not expect such AMAZING food! Everything was fantastic and we had no problem adjusting one of the orders for dietary restrictions. We will definitely stop in again next time we are passing through. Thank you!

Do. Not. Eat. Here!!! This was bu far the worst restaurant I have ever been. The place is filthy with all the tables being super sticky. The service is non existent. The decor is beyond me. But to top it all off. The food. I dont think even Gordon Ramsey would be able to fix this place in an episode of kitchen nightmares. Overpriced, old, microwaved food. I cannot stress how terrible it was. I bet it had 100 health code violations.

Insulting overall quality ! My Moroccan Chicken did not taste safran, had rice instead of couscous, and three small pieces of vegetables. Tasted three appetizers and were also very sub-par.

Really good shawarma. Some of the best I ve had! Was $24 or so which was a bit steep, but it was really good so just know you re getting really good food, but a bit more expensive then you d expect. Restaurant seems a bit dated but was nice enough. Live band, JazzByrds were amazing and drew us into the restaurant in the first place. Really pleasant music.

Very tasty food, the owner was very kind and paid attention for food allergies. Definitely we will come back.

I thought this place was supposed to be upscale Mediterranean but it s def not. The chicken shawarma platter was a really small portion and sad presentation for $24. Not even any veggies on the plate. And a sad portion of pita + runny hummus. I d rather go to Shawarma Time and pay half of that for a bigger portion and decent quality.

Food was great Bit overpriced 24 dollar for a shawarma plate! Friendly service , nice ambience and live music

Trip advisor awarded this restaurant as one of the best. The falafel is so unique and better than any other Ive had in Canada. Some nights they have live instrumental jazz music. The owner is genuine and generous. Hes worked at luxurious resorts and produced charity events. Lots of locals lounge here. It has a cozy atmosphere.

Compared to two years ago the place considerably dropped in quality. We had lentil soup, safir salad and falafel. Everything was barely edible.

A gem of Orillia, absolutely wonderful food and service! We had the weekend special lamb, appetizer baba ganoush, and baklava for dessert and I would recommend everything, it was the best Mediterranean food I ve had by far. Very flavourful and fresh, the portions were generous and filling. Sam the owner is delightful and friendly, the service was speedy and excellent. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for downtown dining in Orillia!!

My sister had driven from Oshawa, to take me out for an early birthday dinner. Wow wow wow. What an incredible experience! Best food I can remember having! I had the roast leg of lamb and my sister had the bass dinner. We will certainly be back, with other friends and family. The owner is great, he will instantly become one of your best friends. Great food, great company, great after dinner coffee. A must try!! RLM Vegetarian options: It s Mediterranean, what else needs to be said!!

We called, he was closing but stayed open just for us. The chef/owner is very friendly and the food is amazing! A few of the menu items are even vegan - like Baba Ganoush! Yummy!

Shawarma is good considering we are in Orillia. I have had much better in the city. My biggest issue that the food is not of good value. A shwarma platter of similar or better quality is normally about $15 to $17 instead of $24. Overall good, but will most likely not go back. Also they don t have wraps available for a quick takeout.

Excellent service & food. Must try the falafel! They substituted mixed greens instead of romaine lettuce in the fatoush turned out even better. Thank you for a great lunch!

SO GOOD!!!!!!

Excellent all around

They have traditional Saffron Rice! Hummus! + Chicken Shawarma! Pretty good portions too. We lucked out in catching a local duo of entertainment there on a Saturday night, great performance and atmosphere!

Worst customer service ever!! Attitude is not appreciated sir

Excellent food (both take out and dine in experiences). High quality ingredients, incredible Chef- Sams the best, and very large portions. A must go to for locals and visitors!

The steak was absolutely delicious and so it was super tasty...very friendly owner and staff! Highly recommended

Great food, great music. The owner is a pleasure to talk to. Would highly recommend and will definitely come back myself.

First time trying this place and very glad we did. The atmosphere was nice and inviting. The service was great as well. The food was delicious, probably the best Mediterranean food we have ever had. We would definitely recommend this place.

Best Shawarma ever!!

Great tasting food, with solid portions. Owner seems very nice and friendly. Will definitely be back!

Love this restaurant. Delicious food and great service. A highlight in Orillias culinary options.

I am so happy for the lunch weve got here! Amazing taste, quality and atmosphere. We ordered a soup, shawarma and espresso(good espresso, realy!), everything was fresh authentic South Mediterranean meals! We met the owner, great person, so friendly and nice. Thank you for the great experience!

Best falafel in simcoe County. The owner is friendly and helpful!

Writing this as I eat because it s so delicious! So fresh! The owner was the nicest person! 100% will be going back!

Best baklava ever! The owner is the absolute best and the food is delicious. Always a favourite spot when I m downtown Orillia

Best shawarma in Orillia, if not Simcoe as well. Honestly, the best shawarma I ve had in a long time. These folks know what they re doing, and are the kindest hosts. I ll be going back again and again.

This is great Mediterranean food! And Sam is a wonderful host!

Not bad. A bit pricey for what you get, but not many Mediterranean choices in Orillia

Quite aside from waiting more than an hour for our dinners and ordering an expensive special, we agreed that this was possibly the worst meal we had ever encountered in a restaurant. The lamb was tough and the Moroccan chicken tasteless, clustered around glutinous couscous. Stay away from this place.

On an extremely busy Friday night, with a limited but friendly staff, service was understandably slow. The Jazz Byrds did a great job of entertaining until our food was served; hot and delicious. The tabboule salad was what I was craving and it was excellent.

Re Arthur Wenk review. They came in finished their entire meals then complained it was no good. They raised a ruckus wanting meal for free disturbing the rest of us customers and the musicians . The owner waived their bill so they would leave.

Had a lovely lamb dish there last summer but it doesn t seem to be on the menu now. In fact, the menu looks like chicken and more chicken. What s with that?

Amazing food! We shared a shawarma platter and a falafel platter, we enjoyed everything so much! A real treat.

I had my first steak in over a year at Sanafir and it was scrumptious: cooked medium rare, tender, tasty, lean and much larger than expected. It came with generous sides of mixed vegetables and potatoes. I sampled my wifes Morrocan chicken and it was divine. No wonder Sanafir gets top reviews. It deserves them.

Visited on a not so busy Sunday evening. Sam was engaging, service was good. We had the Moroccan chicken and the Egyptian seasoned steak. Both were delish! Perfection. The previous review that claimed a bad experience is truly hard to believe.....and I dont.

Visited recently for the first time and would go back again. Shared the Fattoush Salad & Baba Ganoush to start. Salad was delicious and a very generous portion. Owner / Chef offered a few vegetarian options for me to try so I opted to for a potato & chickpea stew with rice which was very flavourful. Finished the meal by sharing an order of Baklava. The owner / chef talked us out of ordering a Baklava each as he said the portion was very generous and he was right! Had a lovely meal & catch up with a friend. Very enjoyable meal.

Absolute hands down best falafal I have ever had. Will definitely be back. Thank you so much!!!!

This was by far the best dinner we had all summer. What an amazing experience! The food was off the charts DELICIOUS. Thanks Sam for your great hospitality.

Excellent food! Amazing service! Accommodating and so kind! Awesome entertainment! Love it!

We ordered steak, Moroccan chicken, and Baba Ganoush. The food was amazing. We loved the ambience of the restaurant and we could tell a lot of effort was put into making it authentic. Had a great conversation with the owner and we could tell hes very passionate about good food and the service industry in general. I will definitely go back next time Im in town.

We had one drink delivered then we were ignored for 30 mins.. so we left a 20 and departed... Oh well....

This place is overrated. Based on the reviews, we decided to go there. We ordered three foods and one appetizer. The steak was the worst we had ever had. The chicken kebab and morrocon chicken was below normal. Baba ghanoush from loblaws are more delicious than what they served. The bread was stale. The restaurant was dirty and warm with so many flies around our food. Their service was below normal. Don t recommend this place to any one.

First time here and glad we chose .. no reservation was required .. We enjoyed the shawarma and Baba Ganoush.. .. nice ambience with live music .. great service !

Nice place. Delicious food. Service was fast. Staff is very friendly.

Not worth it. below average food quality for the price, very hot inside, no A/C, flies turning around us and our foods.

Had lunch here with a friend yesterday. Was very pleased. Fantastic food, great service and a warm and cozy ambiance! Best the best Sharwarma I have ever eaten! Will definitely go back.

Tasty and laid back. The chef is an awesome person.

Great food and friendly owner.

Great atmosphere, the owner is very kind, and the the food is EXCELLENT! No better place to have chicken shawarma in Orillia. 10000x better than any shawarma chain!

Lovely menu, extremely tasteful meals...nice decor, clean...excellent service

Fantastic quality, great flavor...a must try if you like Mediterranean food. Delicious!

Chicken Shawarma Platter was amazing! The gentleman behind the counter, though it was busy was very polite and our food was ready in timely manner.

Have been to Sanfir at least 4 times. The food and service always excellent. If you love falafel, these are the best in the world. And the live music is really, really good. When you go, your bill will not be high!! Thank you for opening in Orillia!

We had the steak and the chicken shawarma, both amazing with great flavours. Service was at par with the food.

Amazing food and live music on weekends. The 5 spiced steak is especially delicious!

First time here. Really enjoyed trying new food. It was great.

Food was delicious and service was exceptional. Will definitely visit again!

We visited in July 2021 during a short stay in Orillia. The food here was rather good, tried the falafel and it was well prepared and service was quick. We had two kids with us and one adult meal was enough for them to split and it was all reasonably priced as well.

We ate here for the first time and to say the steak was delicious is an understatement! The spicing was wonderfully fragrant(a well kept secret) good portions as well. The host/chef very congenial. We will return for our anniversary and try another dish!!

The food is very good, and they even have live entertainment. Great night out.

The food was so delicious and fresh tasting. Falafel was crispy on the outside, flavourful and not dried out on the inside. Chicken was tender and juicy and the rice was flavourful and aromatic.

Visited this place during thanksgiving trip to Orillia with family for dinner, fully masked and showed proof of being fully vaccinated and with photo Id s. My daughter who is also fully vaccinated, does not have any Id other than Canadian passport and as I offered to show that on the phone, since we were not carrying passports for the weekend trip, we were told to leave. We were disappointed but obliged and walked out without a word, as the children were upset and hungry. While we were on the road and contemplating where to eat, the chef and owner Samir Hanna came outside the restaurant and started telling us off, without allowing me to explain that we all were fully compliant as regards COVID rules, such as being masked and fully vaccinated and had photo Id s except for one child who had copy of Canadian passport, as ID. We were appalled and disgusted with his rude, offensive and condescending attitude. The children also did not feel like eating in a place where they were disrespected and had been asked to leave just because one child was not carrying a physical passport but had a copy of the same. I have no clue why the owner decided to actually come outside and yell at us after we had walked out and were on the roadside. This was a blatant display of intimidation, and harassment. We would have considered putting up a complaint if we were residents of Orillia and were living there long term. Surprisingly, we were allowed to dine in at 3 top rated restaurants on the same street, over the next 2 days of our stay in Orillia and the same passport copy was accepted as proof of ID for my child. If there was an option to give this business less than a star, I would do so. We have never experienced such discourteous, uncouth and crude demeanour especially from a restaurant chef/owner in all our years as Canadian citizens, in Canada. Perhaps it is just the culture.

Delightful falafel. Like the store too

lacked flavour , not enough sauce and very disappointed it doesnt come with a cilantro sauce or hot sauce...

Amazing meal and service from Sam at Sanafir. The menu is fantastic with most all of your mediteranian cuisine favorites avialable. The taboullet salad was out of this world and the moroccan chicken and swarma plate were both perfectly prepared and delicious. Generous portions all around but more than anything Sam is a great host and takes personal pride in every dish. Quality of the food will certainly meet and exceed your expectations. We will definitely be back again real soon!

Very friendly staff and great food

Nice and delicious food . Fresh veggies and pita bread hummus is very tasty. Must check out this place in orillia.

Excellent food

This place has the best halal steak I have had that I did not have to pre-order. I had the Egyptian 5 spice steak and my partner had the Moroccan chicken. Both were delicious! But lets talk about the steak. Everyone I know who has had non-halal steaks before, and then went exclusively halal know that if you want to good halal steak you gotta pre-order, at least in and around Toronto. But apparently not in Orillia! They know how to cook it too. I ordered medium rare assuming like all halal steakhouses (at least the ones I been to and paid more than here) they will overcook it but they were on point and had send it back get it to a medium. The service was great too!

Awesome food! Top rating on all counts!!!

Lovely meal and entertainment. Owner very pleasant.

Who knew? The best Middle Eastern restaurant in Toronto is in...Orillia! Tastiest falafel nuggets I have ever had. Moroccan chicken was so good we kept eating way after we were full. We spent a weekend in Orillia, but I would drive up there to this restaurant for lunch.

Cant say enough good things about this little place. A small menu, but everything is prepared fresh and is delicious.

The food is far below average. We couldn t finish any of our plates. The soft drinks fountain is literally water with a dye

Makes osmows look silly. This is really quality food.