0°C | Thursday November 13, 2025 
27 May 2025
By James Mullan
Finding good Middle Eastern food in Neutral Bay, Cremorne and Mosman can be a tough task. Outside of a couple of takeaway kebab shops, there aren’t many restaurant options for a taste of one of the world’s finest cuisines. That’s until now as WaFire Grill moves into Young St, serving up flavorful Middle Eastern treats.
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This isn’t just a Moroccan or Lebanese style restaurant, WaFire’s menu takes inspiration from flavours that will take you to North Africa, the Persian Gulf and everywhere in between.
Wasim Shaikh is the owner and brings a wealth of international experience to Sydney’s North Shore, drawing on his time in India, Dubai, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, China, London, and Singapore. He has also learned from chefs who specilise in Middle Eastern food while working in Dubai and Australia.
“My father was in hospitality,” Shaikh shared, explaining his journey into the industry. “He didn’t want me to become a chef, but I got so much fascinated about this industry.” Despite his father’s reservations, Shaikh began working in a flight kitchen in India at just 18. This early start led him to culinary school and eventually overseas.
Shaikh’s passion for Arabic cuisine blossomed during his 10 years in Dubai, where he was captivated by the traditional methods of preparing dishes like Baba Ghanoush. “Baba Ghanoush was that they make it on the charcoal,” he explained, noting how different it was to the Australian version.
His culinary journey eventually led him to Australia in the early 2000s, where he worked as a head chef for Kazbah, which many Sydneysiders will remember from their Balmain and Darling Harbour locations.
“Darling Harbour was the major high revenue generating restaurant,” Shaikh recalled. This experience provided him with further opportunities to work with chefs from diverse backgrounds, including Syrian, Moroccan and Lebanese culinary experts. “I got a lot of knowledge information from all different parts,” he said.
Kazbah closed when the Harbourside Shopping precinct was shut down for a demolition, leaving Shaikh looking for a new opportunity.
Now, with WaFire Grill, Shaikh is bringing all that experience to Neutral Bay. “I thought of opening my own cuisine,” he said, explaining his decision. “I chose Neutral Bay because Neutral Bay has more Italian, more Japanese and Mexican foods here. So there was not much Middle Eastern restaurants around.”
WaFire is an acronym that represents the members of Shaikh’s family.
The menu at WaFire Grill features unique dishes developed from Shaikh’s extensive experience. Shaikh took elements of Lebanese and Turkish to create the Kataifi Haloumi. A mezze option wrapped in pastry and topped with honey pomegranate dressing. “Most of the restaurant they use prawns,” Shaikh said. “I thought, let’s try something different.”
Another standout is the WaFire Signature Tabouleh Nutty seedy salad featuring parsley tomato, burghul, lemon and olive oil dressing – an invention from Shaikh’s time at Kazabah. “This salad has become so popular…you can eat by itself,” he explained.
It wouldn’t be Middle Eastern without kebabs fresh off the grill. The most popular items are the lamb kafta, chicken shish tawook and lamb backstrap which can be ordered together on a mixed platter.
But two items have really got locals excited, and for good reason. The first is the slow cooked lamb shank tagine which Shaikh learnt while working with Moroccan chefs. He describes it as “very simple and very fresh. We cook it with the stock and we bring all the flavors into it.” It is served with either persian rice or cou cous, the latter of which Shaikh says has been the most popular.
The second must order item is the Grilled Prawns which is also cooked Moroccan style with a green sauce and mango. “It’s a very unique combination,” Shaikh pointed out. “People who have it, they come back and eat again.”
Shaikh says he is committed to using fresh ingredients, shopping at local markets and butchers daily. “I do not buy my meat from the supplier. I get it from the butcher,” he said. “I keep my meats more fresh.” He sources a lot of produce from Auburn, an area renowned for its plethora of international food providers.
Shaikh hopes to offer more than just food; but to also provide a classic dining experience. He encourages customers to relax and enjoy a “feast,” with dishes served slowly over a few hours. “Sometimes six people come get seven bottles of wine and they sit down for three hours and they enjoy this feast.” WaFire is also BYO.
With its unique blend of international flavours and personal touches, WaFire Grill is quickly becoming a local favourite, offering a taste of the Middle East right here in Neutral Bay.
