Good Middle Eastern?

Question

I was recently in Philly and ate at this fabulous Turkish restaurant (Divan Turkish Kitchen) and now I'm craving more of it, but I'm back in Austin. I have my stand by for fast and cheap, Byblos (up north at Parmer and I35) which is really really good food from Lebanese transplants but not a real "sit down and have a meal" kinda place (we usually get take out). Where do I go for good Middle Eastern fare, perhaps with atmosphere? I liked the food at Ararat, but their space and reservation issues kept me away unless it was a planned event....and now alas they are closed. Anywhere in the city is great but even better if its "up north."

Answer

These are all good suggestions. What I'm really craving is a good lamb dish, perhaps with a yogurt or tomato type sauce. And, I'd love a "sit down" place. Has anyone tried Alborz? What about Marakesh downtown? I think there is a new place north...can't remember name (on Anderson Mills btw. Parmer and 183) or also that place off I35 (Pyramids or Pharoahs). Are any of these worth my time??

Answer

Wanted to put in another plug for Arpeggio Grill. True, the space itself leaves much to be desired, so it doesn't meet your "atmosphere" request, but depending on where you live, they might even deliver to you (they're right by Highland mall). My favorites are falafel, tabouli, hummus, and the kofta kabob. Everything is pretty decent, but those four in particular stand out, IMO.

Answer

Alborz at shoal creek and anderson lane is my favorite. Totally in love with their cherry rice dish and raisin rice dish.

Answer

I am surprised that nobody mentioned Zorba's in Round Rock. I have found all of their items excellent at dinner, and have taken numerous folks there and they have all loved it.
They serve lunch also, but not all items are available.

Answer

There is a tasty place called Jerusalem on Oltorf just east of Burleson and on the south side of Oltorf.

It has shawerma, falafel, dolmas, babaganoush, gyros, etc. I have enjoyed everything I have had there, but my knowledge of mediterranean food is nil.

It is nearly always empty. I think it is mainly because it has the most illegible sign I have ever seen. A family runs it (father, mother, son) and there is an arabic (I think) language station on tv all the time.

I would be interested in the review of another Hound with more mediterranean food experience.

Answer

Doesn't seem like anyone's mentioned Phoenicia, which I find kind of surprising. Not that its mind-blowing good, but you can always count on their Chicken Schwarma. I'm pretty certain that the owners are Lebanese, fwiw. I go to the one nearby on S. Lamar, but the one just north of 45th and Burnet is equally wonderful. Lamb kabob is alright, though not as good as Ararat at its best in the mid-00's

Answer

I tried Dimassi's lunch buffet. It was alright, not great but not atrocious. Had some authentic type Lebanese stuff as well as some sort of generic Middle Easternish stews and even biriani. I didn't ask the owner where he was from but he was S. Asian. It did hit the spot and I liked the lamb stew and the grilled veggies best, plus the variety of rice pilafs with both short and long grain rices. Their seasoned meat kabob was very good, especially for being on a buffet. Didn't like the tabouleh at all. The baqlawa, basbousa, and jelly cookies were awful. Like I said, it is just okay. Good variety and you can find some decent things among some lame items.

Has anyone been to Ya Hala? Any good?

Answer

I know this is a post about Middle Eastern, but The Athenian Grill (Greek, downtown, across from Ruth's Chris') serves most of the same food and is the best in town for what they serve. (The only thing I'm pretty sure they don't have that's been mentioned here is falafel.) They are consistently the best quality, the portions are plenty for what you get, and the food is always fresh.

On another note, I'm surprised that Sarah's Grill has gotten such high reviews. I think the reviewers here are giving them an obscene amount of credit. It's alright, but it doesn't hold any weight to The Athenian.

I have been to most of the other Mediterranean restaurants in town and the one I'd consider as my #2 choice would be The Arpeggio Grill. True, it doesn't have the atmosphere of some of the others, but I don't mind going to a hole-in-the-wall.

Dimassi's, by the way, is HORRIBLE. Do yourself a favor and don't go there. I can't believe it was even mentioned. Food is bland and cold. It's all on a buffet which sits out forever. Families and college students camp out and feast for hours in this depressing restaurant. Oh, and the restaurant really goes the extra mile to make sure they don't lose money off the buffet. You know this because you won't be getting much high-quality foods from it – Dimassi's is a glorified Middle Eastern Golden Coral. And if all this doesn't convince you, let me also throw in that they are a Houston chain. I don't know about you, but I'd rather support the small, local Mediterranean restaurants that are filled with so much more quality and charm.

Answer

I can tell you where NOT to go for good Middle Eastern-Tarbouch on Oltorf. We went midafternoon on a Saturday. There was no one else in the place and the service was terrible. The tea was bitter and tasted like it had been sitting for a long time. I asked to have water instead and they still tried to charge me for the tea. 3 of us ordered separate dishes and they all came out about 5-10 minutes apart and looking exactly the same except for the meat. My dish was supposed to have basmati rice and didn't and when I finally found the waitress to ask for the rice she looked a little puzzled and said "well do you want a bowl of rice". She brought a plate of rice with a wrapped square of butter on top. The meat was very good-the beef, chicken and lamb. The hummus was ordinary, the iceberg lettuce salad, well, it was iceberg lettuce. While we were waiting for our check the cook and the waitress brought out several large bags of pita bread they had bought at Phoenicia, took them out of the bags and were sorting them out by hand at the table next to us. No decor, no personality, nothing at all that would make me want to go back to this place, especially the food.

Answer

Hi,

Sorry if repetitious, but I went by Bylbos on Wednesday and found the space empty. Have they relocated?

Answer

Just to pound on this expired equine some more: I've been to Alborz multiple times for the lunch buffet, and once for dinner. I like it, mostly because the chefs/cooks appear to know what they're doing and as such the dishes don't all taste/look the same.

Also, I'm usually there for lunch with a Lebanese friend. He likes their food as well. He says the tabouleh is more authentic in that it is mostly parsley.

Answer

I went to Sarah's Mediterranean on Burnet and North Loop yesterday for lunch yesterday and I had an amazing lamb shank plate. I have sampled lamb shank at a few 'fancy' restaurants, but this was by far the most tender, moist and savory lamb I have ever tasted. If you enjoy lamb, this is something you want to try.
 The lamb shank is on a bed of fluffy rice which has been flavored with some very nice spices and toasted almonds. The plate includes hummus a very small salad and a side of pita bread. A very filling meal.
 An $8.95 lunch is not exactly cheap, but the quality of the food was remarkable for the price.
 Sarah's is a combo lunch counter and grocery store. The employees are extremely friendly and welcoming.

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