Damascus is a small Syrian restaurant on Tory Street in Te Aro, just off Courtenay Place, run by Hasan Alwarhani and Flora Quintana. Hasan was born in Swaida in Syria, where much of what the family ate came from their own farm, and the recipes he cooks were passed on to him by his mother and sister. Flora comes from a family of keen cooks in Buenos Aires and worked as a pastry chef in cafes, restaurants and hotels; the couple met in Dubai before making Wellington home. Their business began with a gazebo, two tables and a food truck at the city’s markets, grew through a run of popular nights at Vogelmorn in Brooklyn, and settled on Tory Street in September 2022.
With only 15 tables, the dining room runs long and slim like many of its Tory Street neighbours, and that closeness is part of the charm: conversation drifts between tables, the smell of fresh saj bread hangs in the air, and the evening feels nearer to a family dinner than a formal night out. Hasan calls it family food, made with love and care, and the kitchen backs that up with real effort. Bread is baked every day, sauces, pickles and marinades are made from scratch, and the hummus can take up to three days to prepare. Each week the team brings in a whole lamb from Conscious Valley and butchers it on site, using the different cuts across mains and specials.
The cooking tracks the seasons, and every plate is meant for sharing, which the restaurant describes as the Syrian way. A spring selection might include hummus with chermoula, hummus kawarma topped with confit lamb and Aleppo pepper, jazar mutabel made with carrot, tahini and black lime, and zahra, fried cauliflower with green tahini and pickled onion. Grilled vegetables appear in dishes such as barbecued asparagus with preserved lemon and nigella seeds, or fennel with labneh and toasted seeds, and the house flatbread can be made gluten free. Larger plates have included an organic chicken leg with confit onions, sumac and garlicky thoum, grilled market fish, and charred broccolini with lentils and almonds. Vegan dishes are plentiful, and the menu clearly flags which plates are free of gluten, nuts or dairy.
Dessert might be mohala, a rice pudding scented with cinnamon, cardamom, coconut and date syrup, or a pear tarte tatin with ice cream made in house and spiced caramel. For a fuller evening, the Teameni banquet, named after the Arabic for feed me, brings a run of classic Syrian dishes and a large plate to share, with an optional drinks match. The wine list leans toward small producers working naturally, organically and biodynamically, and has featured bottles from Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley and from Domaine de Bargylus in Syria. Cocktails borrow Middle Eastern flavours in drinks such as a sumac margarita and an Aleppo pepper mezcal, while arak, Arabic coffee with cardamom, Damascus mint tea and homemade lemonade cover everything else.
Address: Shop 4, 100 Tory Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011
Moved or closed? Tell us: Moved·Temporarily closed·Permanently closed
Damascus Menu
Option tags, such as Vegan Option (VGO), mean the dish can be made that way on request: ask for that version when you order.
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Teameni Banquet
Teameni means “Feed Me” in Arabic. For these set menus, we offer you two different options with pre-selected classic Syrian dishes.
Teameni Banquet
Zaitun & Sahun Khadra; Hummus + Keshke Kadra + Pita; Fūl Fatosh; Halyūn Mashoi; Zahra & Patata; a large dish to share for two (choose between our “Kabir-large” dishes selection on the next page of our menu)
Drinks Match
For a full experience, you can match this menu with two preselected drinks
Drinks Match
1 – One apéritif. Of your choice: Arak: Turkish anisette – Vermouth Spritz: white vermouth, lemon juice, sparkling water – Garage Project Beer 2 – One glass of wine. Have a glass of wine of your choice from our wine list
Mezzah
Zeitun
olives, pickeld Zatar, rosemary, Lemon zest V GF NF
Sahun Khadra
crudites of cos, cucumber, radish, herbs, spring onion – V GF NF
Hummus
chickpeas, Tahini,chermoula sauce, herbs, olive oil + pita – V NF
Hummus Kawarma
chickpeas, tahini, confit lamb, lemon juce , Aleppo papper+ pita – DF NF
Keshke Kadra
yogurt, keshke, bulgur, spring onion , mint, radish, olive oil + cos lettuce – NF
Jazar Mutabel
carrot, tahini, garlic,black lime, sesame seeds, herbs, burnt carrot oil + pita -V NF
Fūl Fatosh
bbq broad beans , radish, mint, coriander, parsley, spring onion, tahini, pomegranate molasses, sumac, crispy bread, olive oil -V NF
Kyar Salata
cucumber, cos, mint, corinder,garlic, mint, pickled onion, lemon sharab dressing- V NF GF
Halyūn Mashoi
bbq asparagus, hara suce preserved lemon, nigela seeds- V GF NF
Shommar Mashoi
bbq fennel bulb, labneh, garlic, mint, corinder toasted seeds – NF GF
Zahra
fried cauliflower, green Tahini, garlic, pickled onion, coriander – V GF NF
Patata
fried potato, thoum Za’tar – V GF NF
Khubs
House-made flat bread – GF available – V NF
Kabir – Large
Dajaj Mashoi
organic chicken leg, confit onions, sumac, lemon juice, bread, pickles, thoum – NF DF
Broccolini Bil Zeit
charred broccolini, lentils, onion, lemon, garlic, toasted almonds, herbs -V GF
Samak Mashawi
grilled market fish – please ask one of our staff what we are serving today Price: MP
Conscious Valley Lamb
we source a whole lamb every week, butcher in house to guarantee freshness and diversity in our cuts. Please ask one of our staff what we are serving today
Halwaiat – Desserts
Créme Brûlée
ask our staff for the flavor of the day
Mohala
rice, cinnamon, cardamom, coconut, almonds, date syrup – V GF (NF
Pear Tarte Tatin
caramelised pear, house made ice cream, spiced caramel – NF
Takmela – To Finish
Arak
Turkish anisette
Churton’s Petit Manseng – 2017
Marlborough, New Zealand – Petit Manseng
Disaronno
sweet, nutty vanilla, orange peel & apricot kernel Illva, Saronno
Middle Eastern Wines: White Grape
*These wines are subjected to availability as they are shipped from the Middle East.
Château Marsyas B-Qā White 2019
Bekaa Valley, Lebanon – Chardonnay & Sauvignon Blanc Exotic white fruit aromas
Middle Eastern Wines: Red Grape
*These wines are subjected to availability as they are shipped from the Middle East.
Château Marsyas B-Qā Red 2020
Bekaa Valley, Lebanon – Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot Black fruits and fine pepper, with a hint of liquorice
Domaine De Bargylus 2017
Latakia, Syria – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah Fresh fruit flavors of plum, fig, date, cherry cassis. Fine & velvety tannins
Sparkling
NV Champagne Charles Le Bel Inspiration 1818, Bilecart-Salmon Brut
Mareuil-Sur-Aÿ. Champagne. France – Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir
Abbazia Prosecco DOC 'Extra Dry'
Santo Stefano Belbo, Italy – Glera Fine clear bubbles, light and fragrant nose, great freshness with citrus and stonefruit
White Grape
Earthkeepers 2018
Otieke, New Zealand – Pinot Gris & Riesling Ripe stonefruit, floral and citrus, deep flavor with a dry spicy finish
Ojisan White 2022
Nelson New Zealand – Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Riesling Aromas blue pepper, fresh lemon acidity, grapefruit bitterness, smooth texture
De La Terre 2023
Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand – Chardonnay Bright, zippy wine, full of mouth-watering citrus fruit, hint of smoky minerality
Muros Antigos Escolha 2024
Vinho Verde, Portugal – Alvarinho, Loureiro & Avesso Citrus, green apple, stone fruit and wet stone. Crisp and refreshing
Cullerot 2023
Valencia, Spain – 50% Macabeo & 50% Tortosi, Verdil, Merseguera, Malvasia, Pedro Ximenez & Asirtiko Orchard fruit, citrus, minerality, herbs, almonds and textural
Red Grape
Rosé Éstandon Lumière 2022
Provence, France – AOC Côteaux Varois0 – Grenache, Cinsault & Syrah Fresh berry fruit, mineral aromas. Crisp and dry on the palate chalky mineral finish.
Vinoè Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2022
Abruzzo, Italy – Montepulciano Deep ruby red, bright floral nose, cherry, blackberry, with a fine ripe tannins.
Chateau Beauregard-Ducourt 2016
Bordeaux, France – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot Oak notes, dark fruit, and toffee, juicy palate and firm, slightly astringent tannins.
Grasshopper Rock 2022
Central Otago, New Zealand – Pinot Noir Dark forest fruits, length, minerality and fine flavoursome tannins
Vermell 2024
Valencia, Spain – 70% Mando & 30% Arcos Juicy and supply with red berries and pink florals
Les Alcusses 2023
Valencia, Spain – 60% Monastrell, 30% Cariñena & 10% Syrah & Petit Verdot Plush and exotic with blueberries, graphite, dried tobacco, herbs, smoked plum, cherries and spices
Gran Sello Tempranillo Garnacha
Toledo, Spain – 70% Tempranillo & 30% Garnacha Clean and bright, wonderful nose of Christmas spices and berries
Hot Drinks
Arabic Coffee (Lebanon)
Grounded coffee & cardamom seeds
Damascus Tea (Syria)
Black tea and mint
Herbal Tea (Palestine)
Fresh herbs infusion
Mocktails
Yuzu Virgin & Tonic
YuNo non alcoholic gin infused with yuzu + tonic water
Virgin Mojito
Chose either Mulberry, Jallab (date) or homemade Hibiscus syrup + lemon, mint and lemonade
Soft Drinks
Lemonade
Locally made by Hardieboys Beverages
Ginger Beer
Locally made by Hardieboys Beverages
Homemade Damascus Lemonade
Beers
Tiny <0,5%
Non alcoholic hazy IPA – Garage Project
Fugazi 2,2%
Low alcohol, hoppy, season ale – Garage Project
Birdseye 5.8%
Hazy IPA – Parrotdog
Garagista 5.8%
IPA – Garage Projectt
Beer 4.8%
Pale lager – Garage Project
Our Cocktails
Swaida
144 Islands red Vermouth, rum, lime juice, grenadine, bitters
Raha Warda
Gin, rose syrup, crème de cacao and lemon
Mulberry Ra’d
Vodka, mulberry syrup, lime, ginger beer, sparkling water
Sumac Margarita
Tequila, Cointreau, honey, lemon juice and sumac
Aleppo Mezcal
Mezcal, Aleppo flakes, agave syrup, lime twist
Wiske Asal
Whisky, homemade hibiscus syrup, honey
Mauresque
Arak, orgeat (almond syrup)
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