Pyramids Cafe
3149 Calhoun St, New Orleans, LA 70125, USA
Uptown 4: Riverbend, Carrollton & Broadmoor
Backstory
Hilmi Abdejali opened Pyramids in 2008, taking over the spot next to Bud's Broiler formerly occupied by a branch of the local chain Mona's. He performed some cosmetic renovations to the restaurant, resulting in a more comfortable restaurant than you might expect from the exterior.
Dining Room
Cosmetic renovations to the restaurant when it changed hands lifted the spirits of the middling-spacious dining room, more comfortable than you might expect from the exterior. The service staff could give more attention than they do.
Why It's Essential
A sleeper among the many Middle Eastern restaurants in the area, Pyramids is best known to the university crowd and other nearby neighbors. The menu offers all the standards, somewhat in the cooking style of its predecessor Mona's. The prices are a shade lower than typical, which in the high-value Lebanese category is saying something.
Why It's Good
The value issue trumps the intrinsic excellence of the food here, which is pretty good, but not so good you'd drive miles to get it. The entree list is essentially the same as the appetizer list, plus sides. My best luck has been with the lula and kafta kebabs (one day I'll understand the difference between the two; it varies from place to place). Seafood constitutes the weak side of the offerings.
Most Interesting Dishes
<em>Starters:</em><br /> *Red lentil soup <br /> Green salad<br /> Fatouche<br /> Tabboule<br /> Yogurt salad with cucumber<br /> Green salad with beef or chicken shawarma, grilled chicken, marinated shrimp, or gyro meat<br /> *Hummus<br /> *Baba ghannouj<br /> Musabaha (whole chickpeas and hummus with hot pepper and garlic)<br /> Foul (like musabaha, but with fava beans)<br /> *Qudsia (both of above mixed)<br /> Lebna<br /> *Fried kibbe<br /> *Stuffed grape leaves (meat or veggie)<br /> Spinach pie<br /> Fried cheese<br /> Falafel<br /> <em>Entrees:</em><br /> Falafel plate<br /> Vegetarian plate<br /> *Chicken lula (ground, grilled on a shish)<br /> Chicken tecka (grilled half)<br /> Chicken kebab<br /> *Lamb or beef kafta kebab (ground, grilled on a shish)<br /> Gyro plate<br /> Lamb chops<br /> *Fried kibby plate<br /> *Hummus with lamb<br /> Shrimp plate <br /> Tilapia (fish) plate<br /> Meat-stuffed grape leaves plate<br /> <em>Sandwiches:</em><br /> Falafel sandwich <br /> *Lula kebab sandwich<br /> Chicken or lamb sandwich<br /> Shish kebab sandwich<br /> Beef or chicken shawarma sandwich<br /> Eggplant sandwich<br /> <em>Desserts:</em><br /> Fresh baklava<br /> Burma
Deficiencies
They need to upgrade the quality of the fish and shrimp they serve here. Right now, it's an afterthought. The web site doesn't work as of this writing.
For Best Results
Bring your own wine or beer. There's no corkage charge. The menu features many vegetarian dishes.
Bonus Ratings
1
Environment
2
Value