It is 4.54pm and Arabic singing announces maghrib, the fourth and second last prayer of the day for Muslims. Patiently, people line up to tuck in to their first meal of the day.

It is the holy month of Ramadan and Armani restaurant in Parramatta is heaving with people: groups of older men smoke shisha in a corner of the spacious restaurant, children run and play, a young couple laugh at a shared joke.

Salim runs Armani restaurant with his brother Mustafa. Salim came with his family to Australia from the Syrian city of Homs in late 2011, fleeing the Syrian conflict. "Ramadan is about family and welcoming new friends" Salim says. Credit:Oliver Strewe

Six years ago, Salim Kricha fled war-torn Homs with his wife and three young children. He is now manager of Armani restaurant and works for his brother Mustafa Kricha who owns the establishment.

"We work long hours, sometimes 17-hour days, but I live above the shop so I can manage", Salim Kricha says between sips of ahweh, a Lebanese-style coffee.