Syrian food is not a cuisine most are familiar with. The words knafeh, shawarma and kafta certainly don’t register in most people’s minds as words let alone foods. At Ranoush, Syrian food is not only the main attraction, the location and atmosphere make it a prime spot for dining.

Ranoush is in the heart of downtown Kirkwood. This is the second Ranoush location in St. Louis, the first being in the Delmar Loop. However, the two locations differ dramatically. Unlike the Delmar Loop location, which is dark, a bit creepy and hookah-smoke filled, the Kirkwood restaurant is extremely family friendly. There were at least three other families there, which doesn’t sound like a lot, but considering it was a Tuesday night and the body of the restaurant is not big at all, it is. That’s not to say Ranoush is a playpen for screaming children. The overall atmosphere is relaxing but all customers were outfitted in dressy casual attire. There were lots of windows and even though I’m not entirely sure what Syrian decoration is, Ranoush has some very impressive authentic-looking décor.

The food was so-so. There were parts that I did and didn’t enjoy but overall, a satisfactory meal especially at the speed it came. The menu offers about five hot and cold ‘mezzas’, which are appetizers and around ten entrees and finally two desserts. My waiter informed me that the falafel was a popular starter and after ordering it I could definitely see why. Four medium-sized balls were $5.25 which was a little on the pricey side but after biting into one, concerns on the price melted away. Each ball was fried to a golden brown on the outside and were creamy inside, offering an amazing contrast in texture. The falafels came with a mayo- like sauce which I didn’t particularly like because it drowned out the flavor of the falafel. The falafels were absolutely delicious and the highlight of the meal. The entrees were decent and relatively cheap, around $14-15, with almost all coming with a Syrian salad and pita bread. All the plates are extremely vibrant with basically every color present on the plate, thanks to the Syrian salad, which has peppers, tomatoes and a lemon olive oil dressing. The chicken shawarma came with small pieces of chicken and was too strongly flavored with sumac. The beef kafta tasted better but looked like a pounded out meatball that was grilled on a skewer and the texture was a little mushy. The menu only offers two desserts, baklawa and knafeh. The baklawa was very flaky and lightly sweetened with cinnamon. The nuts mixed in the puff pastry added a nice texture. Each meal comes with complimentary watermelon which was beautifully plated and a light end to a unique meal.

The best element of this restaurant is their staff. The waiter at my table was attentive enough to notice sunlight getting into my eyes and spent about five minutes hanging a colorful, sheer, tassel-adorned Aladdin like carpet to block out some of the light. He also came to check on my table at least every ten minutes, which was great.

A close second to the staff is the patio. Since Ranoush is located in calm downtown Kirkwood, the patio is in front of the restaurant literally overlooking Kirkwood road near the railroad tracks. It is larger than the restaurant building itself and that’s not an exaggeration. With over 20 tables, it offers an ideal location for a cool summer afternoon. Honestly, props to Ranoush for the patio. Even though this seems like a basic concept, most restaurants offer patios that don’t appropriately shade their customers. I have been to multiple restaurants that have a tiny patio with a couple tables and a flimsy little umbrella over each that casts a shadow only when the sun is at a certain, limited angle. At Ranoush, there is huge balcony of covers to block the sun at almost all angles. No sunglasses needed. It’s also a great place to take or walk your dog while eating lunch or dinner.

Even though the food is not the best I’ve had, I recommend people to visit if not for the food, than just for the other great aspects. Although it is a bit expensive, the location is wonderful as so is the fast and courteous customer service. Located at 200 North Kirkwood Road, Ranoush is a great new addition to the downtown Kirkwood culinary scene. ω