El Laham Restaurant - Cranston, Rhode Island

Bashir B.

Our family dinner at this restaurant was underwhelming. They brought an extra dish we didn’t order, and when I informed the waitress, she was dismissive and insisted we had ordered it. Although they eventually took it back, the interaction felt unprofessional.

The food quality didn’t help either—dry shish kebabs, cold bread, and overpriced lamb chops that didn’t justify the cost. Adding to the disappointment, the staff never checked on us after serving the food, giving the place more of a fast-food vibe than a proper dining experience.

Overall, I’d recommend considering other dining options. This was not worth the price or the experience.

Michael B.

I am so very glad we found this place -- we haven't had Middle Eastern food this good for a long time! So much flavor, amazing texture (the lamb literally fell off the bone), and huge portions (enough for two people or to make two meals out of the platters). We also really appreciated the service for take-out -- good, human conversation. Real people, amazing food -- super satisfying, and we'll definitely be back. Thank you!

Samer S.

The food quality is absolutely amazing, and they offer free sweet tea. However, the service is very slow - we had to wait for 1 hour 30 minutes before getting our food. The tawouk sandwich, kibbeh balls, fattoush, arayis lahme, french fries, and baba ghannouj were perfect. The knefeh, chicken on rice, and hummus were just alright.

Saman A.

Delicious food. Baba ganoush is really good. Lamb kabseh’s flavor is nuts! Chicken and lamb shish took sandwiches are must try. Unlike other reviews, our order was served quickly. We were also told that we can also place our dine in order ahead of time .. which is actually good. All in all , it’s a decent restaurant offering amazing food and service .

Mohamed O.

Absolutely terrible experience at El Laham. The service was horrendous—we waited endlessly for our burnt hookah to be fixed, only to be met with a rude and dismissive attitude from the owner. After over an hour of waiting and senseless back and forth, they finally let us know they would replace the head…when we were already on our way out.

The environment was even worse. The hookah area was completely unventilated, filled with cigarette smoke, and shockingly, there were children present in this closed space. This is not only inappropriate but likely illegal.

When we went to pay for our food, they charged us for an extra salad we ordered. As long-time customers, they never charge for extra salads as they are supposed to come with the mixed plate. We tried explaining the error, but instead of addressing it professionally, they rudely insisted salad was always extra. To make matters worse, they made a snarky comment about us “not being able to afford the salad” as we left.

This isn’t about the money—it’s about transparency and basic decency in customer service. Save yourself the frustration and avoid this place at all costs. It’s not worth it.

Hanane S.

The food is always amazing, never disappoints, the beef and chicken are always so juicy, the salad on point and refreshing, and the sauces always complement the rest of the food so well
The inside venue is newly done and amazing, the other part could use a renovation

Dimitrios K.

A Disastrous Experience at Ellaham Restaurant

If I could leave zero stars for Ellaham Restaurant, I would. What my wife and I endured there was not just disappointing—it was offensive, deeply unprofessional, and downright unacceptable.

The nightmare began the moment we walked in. Instead of a warm welcome, we were met with suspicion. A woman at the front desk immediately questioned us about our service dogs, as though we had no right to bring them into the establishment. We had to explain and justify, in detail, that our service animals are legally allowed in public spaces. This hostile encounter set the tone for the evening, making us feel unwelcome and judged.

We then asked the same woman to help us find a table in the hookah section. Despite knowing that we are legally blind, she didn’t offer any assistance. Instead, we were left to navigate the space ourselves, struggling with our limited vision. Eventually, we found the hookah section, only to be greeted by an overwhelming stench of cigarette smoke—a first for us, as we’ve never encountered cigarette smoke in any other hookah lounge.

I ordered a double apple mint hookah, something I’ve enjoyed countless times at other establishments. When the hookah arrived, I immediately noticed something was wrong. It tasted purely like mint—there wasn’t even the slightest hint of double apple. To make matters worse, there was a strange, smoky aftertaste that was so off-putting it reminded me of charred meat. Yes, meat.

I politely informed the staff about the issue, and while they offered to remake the bowl, the replacement was just as bad. Once again, it was overwhelmingly mint, with no trace of the double apple flavor I had ordered. At that point, it was clear they either didn’t care or didn’t know how to prepare the hookah properly.

Meanwhile, the cigarette smoke in the air was unbearable. My wife and I are regulars at hookah lounges, and we have never experienced cigarette smoke in any other lounge—it’s both unpleasant and illegal in a restaurant setting.

Hoping to escape the smoke, we asked to be moved to the front of the restaurant. The staff refused, showing zero concern for our comfort or well-being. After just 15-20 minutes of this miserable experience, we decided to leave.

When we informed the front desk that we wouldn’t be paying for the two poorly prepared hookah bowls, the woman at the counter became defensive and combative. She insisted we pay and even said, “Don’t make this harder for me.” Harder for her ? What about the terrible service and unwelcoming treatment we received? When we asked to speak with the owner, she outright refused to get them.

We left without paying, furious and disappointed. Let me be clear: we do not believe in paying for bad service, and this was some of the worst we’ve ever encountered. Ellaham’s staff is rude, dismissive, and unprofessional. They have no understanding of how to treat customers, especially those with disabilities.

To make matters worse, allowing cigarette smoking in a restaurant is illegal, and we will be reporting this to the health department. No one should have to endure the toxic mix of cigarette smoke and poorly prepared hookah bowls that taste nothing like what you ordered.

Ellaham is a disgrace to the hospitality industry, and we will never return. If you value good service, quality hookah, or even basic decency, stay far, far away from this place.

Sarah M.

The food is delicious ( I advise you to order when you are on your way to the restaurant because you will wait)
The service is awful and the hookah also is terrible.
The atmosphere is toxic (people scream and say bad words…) there are no windows no AC at the hookah lounge.
The plates and utensils weren’t clean and served in not appropriate conditions

I will come back just for the food