Lebanon's Cafe
1500 S Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
Uptown 4: Riverbend, Carrollton & Broadmoor
Backstory
Hussain Sheereef opened Lebanon's in the mid-1990s, originally in the much smaller space next door. When he expanded into the former Cavallino's, he got a bigger dining room and a much bigger kitchen, allowing the menu to grow to its present encyclopedic size. Over the years, renovations make the place more pleasant seemingly with every visit.
Dining Room
The premises are larger than they at first seem from the heavily-planted sidewalk entrance. In fact, the place is downright spacious, an effect enhanced by the large murals. The service staff--even the many members of it who aren't from the Middle East--are knowledgeable enough about the food to offer suggestions for those just discovering Lebanese cooking.
Why It's Essential
Every good Lebanese restaurant--and this is one of the best--has a unique specialty. Lebanon's Café has a charcoal-burning grill, making it the Bud's Broiler of Middle Eastern food. Its menu is more extensive than most, and the prices are almost laughably low. It's very tempting to eat much more than you should here. They don't sell alcohol, but you are free to bring your own wine with no corkage fee charged.
Why It's Good
Even after dozens of meals here, I continue to find good new dishes. The quality of the raw materials is beyond reproach, and they season and cook the food convincingly. When a concoction requires a drenching with olive oil and garlic, here it comes.
Most Interesting Dishes
<em><strong>Starters</strong></em><br /> »Hummus<br /> Falafel<br /> »Baba ghannoush<br /> »Bathenjan dip (eggplant, garlic & jalapeño)<br /> Musaha (eggplant, roasted garlic, peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, onions, celery, olive oil)<br /> Faul (fava beans, garlic, lemon juice, jalapeño, olive oil)<br /> »Tabouleh<br /> »Stuffed grape leaves<br /> »Kibbeh (ground beef, cracked wheat, onions, pine nuts<br /> Spinach phyllo<br /> »Spinach pie<br /> Safeiheh (mini lamb pizza)<br /> »Zaater bread<br /> Mujadara (lentils and rice)<br /> Labna (thick yogurt, mint with olive oil)<br /> »Cabbage roll stuffed with rice and beef<br /> »Halloumi cheese<br /> Spinach & artichoke dip<br /> <em><strong>Soups & Salads</strong></em><br /> »Lentil soup<br /> Musaki soup (tomatoes, chickpeas, garlic, eggplant)<br /> Summer salad (tomatoes, mozzarella, basil & olive oil)<br /> »Salad with feta cheese & olives<br /> Fattoush salad (vegetables)<br /> Spinach salad<br /> Yogurt salad with cucumber<br /> Feta cheese & olives<br /> »Greek salad<br /> Pickles & olives Mediterranean style<br /> Pickled cabbage<br /> <em><strong>Entrees</strong></em><br /> »Chicken kabob<br /> »Shish kabob (lamb or beef)<br /> »»Lula kabob (ground lamb)<br /> »Shrimp kebob<br /> Gyros (spiced lamb & beef)<br /> »»Chicken shawarma<br /> »Beef shawarma<br /> Salad of chicken or beef shawarma, gyros, or shrimp)<br /> Chicken tecka (marinated, grilled half chicken)<br /> »Filet mignon<br /> »Hummus with lamb meat<br /> »»Rosemary lamb chops<br /> Tuna steak<br /> »Kibbeh plate<br /> »Grape leaves stuffed with rice, ground beef<br /> Vegetarian grape leaves<br /> Sautéed vegetable plate<br /> Falafel plate<br /> Vegetarian plate<br /> <em><strong>Sandwiches</strong></em><br /> Falafel<br /> »Eggplant, tomatoes & mozzarella<br /> Gyros<br /> »Chicken or beef shawarma<br /> Chicken or lula kabob<br /> »Lula kabob<br /> <em><strong>Desserts</strong></em><br /> »Baklava<br /> Burma (phyllo and pistachios)
Deficiencies
The restaurant is always busy, and they serve food so rapidly that one sometimes feels rushed.
For Best Results
If you come in a party of four to six, you can make a spectacular repast out of ordering all of the many appetizers. If necessary (and it probably won't be), fill in the appetite gaps with one or two entrees.
Bonus Ratings
1
Attitude
1
Environment
1
Hipness
1
Local Color
1
Service
3
Value
Holiday Ratings
2
Christmas
0
Thanksgiving
1
New Year's Eve