To give everyone a break from all the burger related posts, I decided to sample some classic Arabic fare. This tiny restaurant, serving authentic Beirut Street Food, has just opened up at the Boxpark Mall in Shoreditch. I went on a weekday for dinner and found the place packed: now that was a good sign to start with. 

What I liked: The décor is simple with wooden plank seating and tables which gives it a sort of communal dining experience. It does have a few table & chair options fit for couples however, and two long tables by the bar. The music definitely has an Arabian influence but is unobtrusive and allows for easy table conversation. 

What I loved: Appetisers of ‘Hommos’, ‘Falafel’, ‘Tabboule’ and ‘Sawda Djej’ were our picks for the night and the only thing - food wise - which was below the standard set by the rest of the food on the table was the falafel. Not that it wasn’t good, no. It is just that I’ve eaten better ones in my time.  The hummus and the tabbouleh (a salad of parsley, mint, spring onions, tomatoes, a dash of lemon juice and a generous sprinkle of olive oil for those not familiar with the dish) were fresh and spritely on the palate and along with the tahini-drizzled falafel did succeed in dishing out a good vegetarian start to the meal. The ‘Sawda Djej’ listed under the ‘100 Best Dishes by Time Out 2012’ definitely had to be sampled and the sautéed chicken liver swimming in a gravy of pomegranate molasses was indeed a different treat. The sweetness of the gravy did not overpower the taste of the liver, which was soft and easy to bite into.

For the main, I went with the ‘Lahem Meshoue’ which is grilled lamb skewers served with basmati rice, a salad and a thin piece of khubz (Arabic flatbread). The lamb was succulent and not very chewey and the sumac added a slight tanginess to the meat. Definitely a good choice, and filling at that.

To round off the meal (though I’m not a huge fan of Middle Eastern dessert), I decided to pick the Mohalabiya which was a milk pudding topped with pomegranate seeds and a rose syrup. It wasn’t too bad but in hindsight, I should have picked the tried and tested Knefe (Kunafah) which one of my friends’ did. The kunafah is a cheese and semolina cake and here it’s served with a scoop of rose petal ice cream as well. That’s a must try. 

What could be better: Since they operate on a walk in policy with no reservations, we had to wait a good half an hour before being shown a table. Also, the restaurant does not have a lounge or waiting area which meant that we had to wait right at the door which did get a bit annoying. Sadly the service leaves a lot to be desired and doesn’t hit the right chord with friendliness and efficiency.

Conclusion – Drop by if you’re in the mood for some lip smacking Arabic food and an extremely satisfying meal. It’s reasonably priced as well and with Yalla Yalla testing the waters in Shoreditch, you know where to go for good Arabic food.
P.S: Don’t let the service dampen your spirits.