A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I were at Safier for a shawarma and hummus, when I saw their Saturday lunch special of lamb shank, basmati rice, and salad being delivered to a diner. It looked stunning and had me immediately second-guessing my order. We ended up leaving at the same time she did, so as we were walking out I had to ask if the lamb shank was as tasty as it looked. She said not only was it every bit as delicious as it looked, she also added that she works in accounting for an upscale restaurant in town and said that they serve a similar dish. However, they charge about three times as much for a smaller serving that she said was no better than Safier's.
This past Saturday, I was able to coerce the wife into a return visit. Needless to say, I was not disappointed. Plastic-ware aside, this has to be one of the best dining values I have come across anywhere in this town. The lamb shank is fantastic; tender from low and slow braising in a rich broth, warmly redolent of Lebanese spices. The basmati rice is also delicious and makes for a perfect vehicle to soak up the plentiful, excess broth. Finally, the salad with Safier's incredible pickles (including those delicious pink turnip strips, at least I think they're turnips) and a small ration of ultra smooth, creamy hummus and homemade pita round out a veritable feast.
This is what $12.49 will get you:
One tip: Watch out for the cardamom pods in the rice!