by Ellen White » Wed Aug 11, 2010 8:58 pm
Tried it for dinner tonight. It was pretty good. When I first arrived, there were no workers present out front, so I had about a 2 minute wait to be greeted. The server seemed like she was excited about being there. If you haven't been there in one of its previous incarnations, this is a pretty big space, with two large rooms. The front room, with a bar, is painted burnt orangeish running to brickish; the second room is painted mustard. It is located in the same strip as Havana Rumba, 4123 Oechsli Ave. (phone 895-8882). The hours are listed at Monday-Saturday 12-9.
Appetizers: Mezza (hummus and baba with cucumber yogurt and potato salad), Hummus, Semka (roasted red peppers), Baba Ghanoush, Samboosa (flaky pastry stuffed with beef, onions, mushrooms and cheese, then baked-I overheard the waitress telling someone about these. they come 6 to an order, 2 of each kind; so it's not beef, onions, mushrooms, and cheese all together, but three separate kinds), Shrimp Cocktail, and Soup of the Day. Everything is $6, except the Mezza ($9) and soup (3.50/cup; $5/bowl).
Salads: Fatoosh, Shrimp Cocktail, Tabouli, Greek, Caesar, and Chicken Salad; price range is $5-$8.
Sandwiches: Mousakhan (Chicken), Shawarma, Grilled or Fried Chicken, Cheeseburger, Falafel; price range $6-8; served with fries or roasted potatoes
Entrees: Chicken Top-Kapi, Salmon, Steak au poivre, Kuzee, Tandoori Chicken, Curry Chicken, Grilled Chicken Breast, Saaj, Couscous, Kusheri, Shrimp, Grilled Lamb Chops, Mixed Grill, Iraqi Kebob; price range $10-$14.
I will say that I am taking this off the carryout menu, which I picked up on my way out. "Hot off the press. You're the first to get one." This menu lists different items than the menu I had at the restaurant, but it looked like the lady was putting together some new menus when I was leaving, so hopefully this menu is correct.
I had the hummus appetizer $6. It was a plate of hummus (about the same size you get at Pita Delites), with a basket of pita. This hummus was not really to my personal taste. (I won't get into the whole world of different hummus, which is an article in itself [and it's been done!]). It wasn't bad. I ate it all. But I wouldn't order it again. The pita seemed like regular white pita you buy at the grocery.
Iced tea is $3!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Outrageous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now, this carry out menu lists that you receive fries or roasted potatoes with your sandwich, but the menu I had at the restaurant did not say that. It just listed the sandwich, which is all I expected to get. I ordered the Mousakhan (Chicken), and it was good. It is described as, "chicken seasoned with Arabian spices and sumac dressing served in pita with hummus". When the plate came out, it had the sandwich, some sliced fried potatoes, raw onions, bread & butter pickles, and hummus, and then the sauce was in a separate container on the side. The waitress also brought me a container of semka, which is a red pepper relish (along the lines of ajvar), which she joyfully described as something she loves and thought would be good with the sandwich. (Apparently, I missed the fact that hummus was listed in the description, because I wouldn't have ordered the hummus appetizer and I was surprised to see it on the plate).
Anyway, the pita this was served on was very thin, almost tortilla-like or lavash-like. The chicken was sauteed chunks, with sauteed onions. It was very good. Especially for $5 (although this new menu lists it at $6).
When the waitress asked if I wanted dessert, I said no, and she said, "Okay, I'll bring you some Arabian tea." So, she brought me a teapot of hot tea, along with a tiny saucer and tiny mug and tiny spoon, with a cup of sugar.
The total was $14.84 plus tip for a total of $18.
