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Restaurant Ratings

The ratings are based mostly on the degree to which the food excites us, and a little on environment, service, and other considerations. I rate restaurants relative to all other restaurants in the New Orleans area. Here's what the stars mean to me:

starstarstarstarstar
Among the best locally.

starstarstarstar
Excellent and ambitious.

starstarstar
Worth crossing town for.

starstar
Recommended.

*
Acceptable.

No star
Unacceptable.

Cost Ratings
Each dollar sign indicates a ten-dollar range, including a normal meal for the restaurant (dinner, if they serve other meals), not including drinks, or tips. So, for example. . .

1$--$5-15
2$--$15-25
3$--$25-35

. . . and so on, with no upper limit. While this scheme may suggest mathematical precision, know that perception of price varies from diner to diner as much as the star ratings do. So consider this an estimate.

All reviews are based entirely on meals I have personally taken at the restaurant and paid for from my own pocket. I don't take free review meals, nor am I reimbursed by anybody for my restaurant expenditures.

Three Stars
Average check per person $15-$25
Babylon Cafe

Lebanese.
Riverbend: 7724 Maple. 504-314-0010. Map.
Lunch and dinner continuously seven days.
Casual
AE DC DS MC V

WHY IT'S NOTEWORTHY
Babylon Cafe's menu is as well turned out as anybody's, at as attractive a price. But what makes it stand out is its house-baked bread. It's like a fat pita, or a pizza without toppings. The round loaves come out hot, adding extra excitement to everything from a shawarma sandwich to a salad.

WHY IT'S GOOD
The platters here are oversize portions of well-made kebabs, grilled lamb, chicken or beef shawarma, and all the rest of what you go to a Middle Eastern restaurant to enjoy. The better part of a page of the menu is filled with appetizers, enough of them to make a complete meal, particularly with a table of four or more. The house-baked bread costs a little extra, but is so good that it shouldn't be missed.

BACKSTORY
Babylon Café began in the most spartan of locations on Canal Street in the 1990s. When owner Najah Alsherees moved it in 2001 to the much larger, nicer Maple Street restaurant row, it extended its offerings and offered more creature comforts.

DINING ROOM
Most of the tables are in a large, attractive dining room with one curiosity: if you pull back the curtains from the windows on the left-hand wall, you'll gaze into a busy, unassociated laundromat. So don't do that.

ESSENTIAL MENU [*=Recommended]
Home-baked bread. Hummus. Falafel. Spinach in filo. Zaater bread (topped with herbs and sesame seeds). Red lentil soup. Fried kibbe. Kufta, lamb, or beef kebabs (or combination plate). Baked eggplant sandwich. Grilled salmon. Rosemary lamb chops.

FOR BEST RESULTS
Order the home-baked bread no matter what else you get. All the appetizers makes a good meal for four. Don't forget to bring your own wine! No corkage fee charged.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT
They could use more desserts.

FACTORS OTHER THAN FOOD
Up to three points, positive or negative, for these characteristics. Absence of points denotes average performance in the matter.

SPECIAL ATTRIBUTES

This review was updated with new information on 9/14/2010.

A list of over 400 full, current reviews is here.