GOOD FOOD IS BETTER SHARED

There’s something special about a table where no one orders just for themselves. Plates arrive in the middle, warm bread is passed around, and there’s that familiar, slightly awkward moment when everyone reaches for the last bite. Conversations flow, glasses are refilled and, somewhere along the way, dinner becomes more than just a meal.

We often judge a great restaurant by what’s on the plate: the produce, the technique, the attention to detail. And rightly so. But think back to your most memorable meals. Chances are, you remember who was sitting beside you just as clearly as what you ate. That’s the feeling we want to create at Shaffa. Among the hatted restaurants in Sydney, our approach begins with a simple belief: exceptional food and genuine warmth belong at the same table.

The More, the Merrier: The Power of Connection

Across Levantine cultures, hospitality often begins long before anyone sits down to eat. Erez remembers growing up with the understanding that welcoming someone into your home meant offering them something: coffee, tea or whatever was on hand. It wasn’t simply a polite gesture. It was a way of saying, you’re welcome here.

In many desert communities across the Middle East, offering travellers food, water and shelter was historically both a practical necessity and a deeply held social responsibility. Over time, traditions of hospitality became intertwined with everyday life, family and celebration.

You can see that generosity reflected clearly in the food. Mezze, fragrant spices, warm bread and slow-cooked dishes arrive in the middle of the table, inviting everyone to reach in. Mezze (also spelled meze, mezza or mazza) refers to a selection of small dishes made for sharing. The word itself translates to “taste,” “relish” or “savour slowly”, encouraging people to enjoy unhurried communal dining and conversations.

So, there’s no need to pick just one favourite. The pleasure is in trying a little of everything, sharing plates and discovering new flavours together. At Shaffa, a Middle Eastern restaurant in Sydney, we bring that same spirit to the way we cook and welcome people. Because sharing a meal does something that even the most beautifully plated dish cannot do on its own: it gives people a reason to connect.

Fine Dining, Without the Formalities

Mention Sydney’s hatted restaurants and it’s easy to picture white tablecloths, hushed rooms and carefully choreographed courses. There’s a place for that kind of dining. But it’s not the only way to make a meal feel special. Shaffa has been recognised with one chef’s hat by the Australian Good Food Guide (AGFG). We’re proud of the recognition, and of the precision, creativity and care behind it. What we don’t believe is that those qualities need to come with a sense of immense formality.

Much of our inspiration comes from the foods people have loved for generations: bread baked fresh, spice-laden dishes shared at home, and irresistible bites picked up at markets and street stalls. These flavours might be familiar and unassuming, but there’s nothing simple about getting them just right.

Our kitchen gives those traditions a new expression through contemporary techniques, seasonal produce and house-made spice blends. It’s our idea of what a modern Middle Eastern restaurant in Sydney can be: considered cooking without pretension, vibrant flavours without fuss, and plates that are just as inviting as they are inventive.

The chef’s hat recognises what’s happening in the kitchen. The laughter, conversation and generosity around the table are what make the experience complete.

A Little Bit of Everything, Please

So, how should you experience Shaffa? Come hungry, bring good company and make room for a few extra plates.

Start with warm pita straight from the oven and our Hummus with Crispy Chickpeas. Then move to the Palamida Crudo, with fresh bonito and Salsa Mediterranea, or Octopus Al Ha’Esh with sujuk, pimentón, crushed tomatoes, preserved lemon and muhammara. Different flavours, textures and stories, all meeting in the middle of the table.

Behind every plate is a team that cares about the details, from the spice blends we make in-house to the way each ingredient works alongside the next. And beyond the kitchen, there’s the buzz of the Atrium, the heritage setting and the pleasure of an evening that doesn’t need to be rushed.

When people search for the best Middle Eastern restaurants in Sydney, food is naturally where they begin. We hope the welcome, the atmosphere and the company are what stay with them afterwards. For anyone exploring hatted restaurants in Sydney who prefers conversation over ceremony, there’s a seat waiting at ours. Because good food may bring everyone to the table. Good company and genuine hospitality are what make you want to stay.

For anyone exploring hatted restaurants in Sydney who prefers conversation over ceremony, there’s a seat waiting at ours. Because good food may bring everyone to the table. Good company and genuine hospitality are what make you want to stay. Join us at Shaffa in Surry Hills.