One star for being unsanitary. I can forgive a lot when it comes to restaurants, but blatant disregard for sanitary food preparation is a deal-breaker.
The guy behind the counter got mad when we asked for water instead of buying a can of soda for $1.35 and would only give us a single tiny cup to share. I understand drinks are a big source of profit, and he was mad he wasn't getting that on this sale. I can overlook that.
I got the kafta arayess and my wife got the chicken shawarma. All meat comes from a big pre-cut pile. Some items go on an open grill. Most items go into a microwave there in front of you. They're busy, and pre-cutting and nuking are fast. I can overlook that.
I actually really enjoyed my sandwich. The meat was spiced well. The sauce was great. The beets tasted like they were past their prime, but nothing to detract from an overall decent meal.
Despite the service, this was shaping up to be a 3-star experience... then we saw one of the men behind the counter pick up some of the pre-cut meat with his bare hands, eat it, lick his fingers, and continue preparing food. We were shocked.
I can't overlook that. That's just disgusting and irresponsible.