Byblos
Backstory
Gabriel Saliba, Tarek Tay, and Hicham Khodr--all natived of Beirut--opened Byblos on Metairie Road in 1994. It did so well there that the restaurant was renovated twice, and a second location opened in 2000. Byblos is the name of an ancient city in Lebanon. It was so famous for its library that its name gave the Greeks their word for "book" and, in turn, to the Bible.
Dining Room
The original Metairie restaurant took over a former fast-food place, although you'd never know that now. Tall ceilings and large windows make it a very pleasant place to dine. The newer Magazine Street location is inside an 1800s Greek revival structure, but with a cool, modern interior. The Uptown Byblos has belly dancing one or two nights a week.
Why It's Essential
Byblos raised the standards for Lebanese restaurant cooking and ingredients when it opened its first restaurant sixteen years ago. It encouraged the opening of many more of its kind, most of them far better than the few we had before. The Byblos delis--more spartan than their two main restaurants--are also excellent.
Why It's Good
Higher prices, better quality. But even the highest prices in the Lebanese category are good deals. The restaurants have wide-ranging menus with first-class cookery and unusually fine raw materials. The beef, lamb, and chicken are all tender and well-trimmed. Even the rice in the free side pilaf is basmati. The desserts are made in house and hard to resist, even after a very large meal.
Most Interesting Dishes
<em><strong>Starters</strong></em><br /> »Hummos<br /> »Baba ghanuj<br /> Falafel<br /> »Stuffed kibbeh<br /> Mujadarah lentil stew<br /> »Mousaka eggplant stew<br /> Labneh (cream cheese, olive oil, dried mint)<br /> Fried eggplant<br /> Cheese fingers<br /> Lahem-bi-ajeen (ground beef, lamb, onions, tomato sauce)<br /> »Stuffed cabbage rolls<br /> »Stuffed grape leaves (with meat or meatless)<br /> »Lamb taratour<br /> »Spanakopita<br /> Eggplant and crab cake<br /> Spinach and artichoke dip<br /> »Drunken halloumi cheese<br /> Smoked salmon<br /> Yogurt salad<br /> »Mussels a la provencal<br /> »Spinach and lentil soup<br /> Chicken and vegetable soup<br /> Byblos Caesar salad<br /> »Tabbouleh (parsley, cracked wheat, tomatoes, onions, mint)<br /> Fattoush peasant salad<br /> Field greens salad <br /> »Greek salad<br /> Pinenut salad<br /> Salade Nicoise (greens, beans, boiled eggs, anchovies, olives, seared tuna)<br /> Byblos pasta with lamb, beef, tomatoes<br /> Vegetarian platter<br /> »Rotisserie chicken<br /> »Chicken shawarma<br /> »Beef shawarma<br /> »Chicken kabob<br /> »Beef kabob<br /> »Lamb kabob <br /> »Kafta kabob (ground beef, lamb, parsley grilled on skewers)<br /> Shrimp skewer <br /> Combination kabob<br /> Veal Mediterranean (wine and mushroom sauce)<br /> Grilled salmon<br /> Seared yellowfin tuna<br /> »Lamb chops<br /> »Rack of lamb<br /> »Grilled lamb platter<br /> Baby back pork ribs<br /> Mediterranean pasta (shrimp, vegetables, garlic and olive oil)<br /> Baklava<br /> »Ashta (light custard wrapped in phyllo)
Deficiencies
I wish they'd return kibbe nayyih (raw kibbe) to the menu.
For Best Results
Assemble a party of six to eight, and order all the appetizers, plus a few entrees. The location on Magazine Street is a more interesting environment and has a slightly more varied menu.
Bonus Ratings
1
Attitude
1
Environment
1
Hipness
1
Local Color
1
Service
1
Value
Holiday Ratings
0
Thanksgiving
1
New Year's Eve