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healthy food, Syrian food, middle eastern food, street food, super food, super spices, vegan, healthy teas, spice blends, vetgetarian, lamb, Indian food, organic Turkish food, Syria, Raqqa, The Road from Raqqa, the ringer, spice, spices, good living, healthy living, rustic kitchen, hendersonville, hendersonville restaurants, Tennessee, Nashville, food truck, Rakka and roll, Rakkanroll, chef, the chef, chef Rakka, best restaurant, family owned, mom’s and pop’s, cozy cafe, alcohol free , pork free.
Casual spot for homestyle Mediterranean dishes with a seasonal outdoor patio.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 71 New Shackle Island Rd, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Phone: (615) 824-6264
Website: http://www.caferakka.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: sqaure.site
Photo Gallery
Related Web Results
Café Rakka : Artisanal Mediterranean
Chef Rakka now lives in Hendersonville with his wife Linda and their two children. … Cafe Rakka. 71A New Shackle Island Rd Hendersonville, TN 37075 615-824-6264.
Menu — Café Rakka : Artisanal Mediterranean
Served with fresh pita bread · falafel Salad. Organic green with falafel, tomato, cucumber, red onion, cilantro, dried fruit and tossed with our house salad …
Cafe Rakka | Hendersonville TN – Facebook
Dinner service Saturday 01-31-2026 Shish Tawook, roasted cornish hen, and dessert is world famous Syrian Hareesah with honey and pistachois. May be an …
Reviews
Amazon Reviewer
I got a to go order of lentil soup and the regular hummus (no meat). The lentil soup is completely pureed. It has NO texture to speak of except that it was oily (a full layer of oil on top) and slightly gelatinous. I took two bites and had to toss it. It was like eating mucus. I couldn’t do it. The hummus was delicious but the serving size that you get for TWELVE DOLLARS is pitiful. Maybe a third to half of a store bought hummus container. Soup and hummus cost $20, which would have been fine if it was good and the serving size was decent. Very disappointed given how great this place is supposed to be.
Edited to add pic: it completely congealed after it cooled down! Why is it so gelatinous??
… moreEdited to add pic: it completely congealed after it cooled down! Why is it so gelatinous??
Fairooz Haque
Delicious Syrian food that is worth a trip to visit even from the other side of the city. Everything was freshly made and perfect. I especially enjoyed the various home made teas that you can purchase in a bottle to go. Our entire order was at first not accounted for, hence the lower rating for service, but after speaking with the staff we got everything we ordered. Glad we got to try this place during our visit to Nashville.
… moreNot On My Watch
Upon walking in you see tgat it is a small place. This can be a big advantage but it was not. There are a minimum of tables. There is outdoor seating for when the weather permits. You order at the counter and the food is brought out to you. The people working there are very friendly and will help all they can. There are no physical menus to look at, you have yo scan the QR code to see what they have. It was very cold the night we were there and the large windows do nothing to hold back the cold. I asked if they could turn off the ceiling fan and was told the fan was ties in to the lights and if they turn the fan off so will the lights go out. It was uncomfortably cold. We first ordered the Baba Ghanoosh it lacked any flavor. I ordered chicken schwarma and the chicken was way over cooked and lacked any flavor. The beef schwarma actually tasted good but needed to be trimmed much better than it was. The rice that accompanied our meal was dry and also lacked any type of flavor. I went to order a cup of middle eastern coffee and was told that they were not making it that day. We walked out very dissatisfied. The food needs a complete revamping and a whole lot more flavor needs to be added because right now it’s flavorless. Just FYI I am of middle eastern decent and have eaten these foods all my life and know how they should taste. I cannot recommend this place. I am sorry to the owner but I have to be honest.
… moreJeannie Ragland
This is a hidden gem! The food was exceptional! Not a very big place but everyone was friendly. Definitely recommend the hummus and the lamb yahkney. So flavorful and well prepared. We also got the lamb baba ganoush. It was also very flavorful. They have a housemade Hibiscus tea I absolutely loved it! We will definitely go back.
… moreAnna Harrington
Chicken Tandoori was so good. The sauce was so juicy and savory. 10/10 def recommend.
… moreStephen Anderson
Vibe
I so wanted to love this place. But I’ll be honest—when I saw that Guy Fieri had featured Café Rakka, I got a little nervous. I know it sounds harsh, but for me, that kind of spotlight often marks a turning point. Sometimes success and a rush of attention can shift the soul of a place.
That said, the story behind Café Rakka is incredibly compelling. The book The Road from Raqqa—which is proudly featured at the restaurant—tells the powerful, true story of owner and chef Riyad Alkasem. It chronicles his journey from Syria to Tennessee, the hardships he faced as an immigrant, and how he channeled that experience into building Café Rakka. It’s a story of resilience, identity, and cultural pride—and it made me want so much to love this place.
The vibe inside is simple and low-key: order at the counter, grab a seat, and they’ll bring your food out. We noticed lots of takeout going out the door. No-frills, but charming.
Service
Service was friendly, though just a bit offbeat. Not rude in the least—just not particularly warm or welcoming either. The interaction felt a bit transactional, which was surprising considering the heartfelt roots of the restaurant.
Eats/Drinks
We ordered the Chicken on the Sajj Rice Bowl and the Falafel Arabi Sandwich, with Red Tea to drink, and finished with the Ma’amoul Cookies.
The Chicken on the Sajj had great potential but fell a little short—dry chicken, flavors that didn’t quite come together, and pita that was just okay. The pickled turnips, though, were excellent—tangy, vibrant, and easily the most memorable part of the dish.
The Falafel Sandwich had good falafel and more of those pickled turnips (seriously, they’re a highlight), but the pita was dry and made the sandwich difficult to eat. The tahini didn’t quite tie things together.
On the bright side, the Red Tea was warm, spiced, and not too sweet—really enjoyable (though my friend did question just how caffeine-free it actually was). The Ma’amoul Cookies, though, were hands-down the star of the meal: buttery, delicate, with a perfectly balanced date filling. A must-try.
The Bottom Line
Between the inspiring backstory and the national attention, I walked in truly hoping this would be a home run. And while there were some bright spots, the overall experience just didn’t deliver the kind of magic I was hoping for. Still, I admire the heart and heritage behind Café Rakka, and I’d love to see it evolve and thrive. I’m not sure I’ll be back right away—but I’m rooting for them.
… moreI so wanted to love this place. But I’ll be honest—when I saw that Guy Fieri had featured Café Rakka, I got a little nervous. I know it sounds harsh, but for me, that kind of spotlight often marks a turning point. Sometimes success and a rush of attention can shift the soul of a place.
That said, the story behind Café Rakka is incredibly compelling. The book The Road from Raqqa—which is proudly featured at the restaurant—tells the powerful, true story of owner and chef Riyad Alkasem. It chronicles his journey from Syria to Tennessee, the hardships he faced as an immigrant, and how he channeled that experience into building Café Rakka. It’s a story of resilience, identity, and cultural pride—and it made me want so much to love this place.
The vibe inside is simple and low-key: order at the counter, grab a seat, and they’ll bring your food out. We noticed lots of takeout going out the door. No-frills, but charming.
Service
Service was friendly, though just a bit offbeat. Not rude in the least—just not particularly warm or welcoming either. The interaction felt a bit transactional, which was surprising considering the heartfelt roots of the restaurant.
Eats/Drinks
We ordered the Chicken on the Sajj Rice Bowl and the Falafel Arabi Sandwich, with Red Tea to drink, and finished with the Ma’amoul Cookies.
The Chicken on the Sajj had great potential but fell a little short—dry chicken, flavors that didn’t quite come together, and pita that was just okay. The pickled turnips, though, were excellent—tangy, vibrant, and easily the most memorable part of the dish.
The Falafel Sandwich had good falafel and more of those pickled turnips (seriously, they’re a highlight), but the pita was dry and made the sandwich difficult to eat. The tahini didn’t quite tie things together.
On the bright side, the Red Tea was warm, spiced, and not too sweet—really enjoyable (though my friend did question just how caffeine-free it actually was). The Ma’amoul Cookies, though, were hands-down the star of the meal: buttery, delicate, with a perfectly balanced date filling. A must-try.
The Bottom Line
Between the inspiring backstory and the national attention, I walked in truly hoping this would be a home run. And while there were some bright spots, the overall experience just didn’t deliver the kind of magic I was hoping for. Still, I admire the heart and heritage behind Café Rakka, and I’d love to see it evolve and thrive. I’m not sure I’ll be back right away—but I’m rooting for them.
Keith Terrillion
Excellent Mediterranean cuisine!! Food was absolutely top notch! Atmosphere is simple but could use a bit more updating.
But back to the good food!! It’s with the drive to have the Shawermah!! The size of the plates were definitely large enough to share or just walk out with a full stomach!! Don’t be fooled by the surrounding buildings this is for sure a diamond in the rough!! You definitely need to try the food at Cafe Rakka!!
… moreBut back to the good food!! It’s with the drive to have the Shawermah!! The size of the plates were definitely large enough to share or just walk out with a full stomach!! Don’t be fooled by the surrounding buildings this is for sure a diamond in the rough!! You definitely need to try the food at Cafe Rakka!!
Amaya Hall
Fantastic experience! Wasn’t sure what to expect – but loved the quiet, clean, inviting environment and the food was phenomenal. Very flavorful and delicious. 10/10 will be coming back as often as I can. What a hidden gem, hole in the wall!!!
… morestxtigers08
Tried the new item- butter chicken curry with rice and pita bread. The curry was pretty good and was appropriately spiced to what I requested so no complaints there. The rice and pita, however, were just mediocre. The service was decent and staff were friendly so no real complaints there either. The main issue I had was the price. I paid over $28 BEFORE TIP for my meal and a house water. I’ve had similar and better food (and a larger portion) for $10 less than what I paid here. What I had was simply not worth the price. I came with some friends and they both paid similar prices for their entrees as well so this wasn’t a case of me getting the most expensive thing on the menu. In short, decent food, decent atmosphere, but WAY overpriced for what you get.
… moreMelissa B
Best hummus and lamb I have had in a long time. Try their Turkish coffee, hibiscus and pomegranate drinks (and don’t forget the baklava). Delicious!
… more