Lebanese Taverna Recommendation or other Middle Eastern Restaurants

Fellow Foodies--

I did not see any threads or posts regarding Tysons Galleria's latest restaurant called Lebanese Taverna. Has anyone ate at their cafes or other restaurants?

We have had Middle Eastern style food and Lebanese food in metro Atlanta when we visited home this summer. We have not yet tried the Lebanese Taverna restaurant yet or other local Middle Eastern restaurants.

Also, any recommendations on other Middle Eastern food restaurants in Northern Virginia? One of my son's friends is spending the night this weekend and likes Greek and Middle Eastern food--so I thought I would ask for your opinions. All of us will be eating out with friends, etc. and wish for "kid friendly" place to relax.

Below is web site--

www.lebanesetaverna.com (Lebanese Taverna's web site.)

Thanks,

Foodie

 

My husband and I have eaten at Lebanese Taverna and it is wonderful! I've also set up client dinners there as well and everyone enjoys it.....I thoroughly recommend it.

 

My wife's family is Lebanese, so we've eaten at most of the Lebanese Tavernas in the area. We think the best is still the one on Washington Drive in Falls Church/Arlington. We also like going to the market on Lee Highway to buy the food in bulk to take home.

Best hommos in the area, period.

 

Lebanese Taverna in Tysons is excellent. There are lots of options for any taste, and the food is reasonably priced. We take my mom there when she comes to visit. She's a traditional Southern lady and does not much care for "exotic" food, but Lebanese Taverna is at the top of her list.

As for other Mediterranean / Middle Eastern restaurants, the only rival to Lebanese Taverna locally would be Zaytinya. It's located downtown near the Verizon Center, so it's a good place to hit before or after a game. We ate there when we went to the car show recently.

See http://www.zaytinya.com/

 

gryphon and others--

Thanks for "y'alls" feedback for our "feedbag" party at the Lebanese Taverna restaurant at Tysons. We had 20 people (including our six kids and ourselves along with my sons' overnite guests, adults and other kids) dine at the restaurant. My husband and I had the mixed grills and kids had several of the samplers and burger kids meals.

The food was excellent and the wines were great! Highly recommend the restaurant. We went about 4 pm and left around 6 or 7 pm. Great food and service. Kids had fun (our quads and even twins loved the smells of the food and the surroundings).

Thanks again--

Foodie

 

Foodie - I'm happy to hear your liked it. It's definitely at the top of our all-time list.

 

Ours too!

 

Fellow Foodies--

Just thought that I would resurrect this thread and/or post on Middle Eastern and Lebanese foods and/or restaurants.

Since we are Mennonite and have a Swiss German background, we have also ventured into other ethnic foods as well as shopping sometimes in ethnic markets. Since the metro DC, VA, and MD areas are very ethnically diversified, what a great place to experience various food varieties from all cultures--right? Well, we ate recently--early yesterday--at Mezza Grill for lunch in Broadlands. What a treasure--"y'all" have in the Broadlands/Ashburn area!

Anyway in speaking with the owner(s), he told us about Lebanese Butcher & Restaurant located in Falls Church area (near Bailey's Crossroads). So I went on a food hunting expedition for Turkish coffee, which my husband and I enjoyed immensely at Mezze Grill, at the Lebanese Butcher & Restaurant that he recommended. Boy, what a find!

I bought ground beef kafta, Turkish sweets, candies, pastries, feta cheese, Greek-style yogurt, sausages that were made of lamb and beef, and Turkish coffee. The food is great and the meat is butchered in the Halal tradition. The store and restaurant was well run and serviced. Great food and informative owners and staff. One of the owners, I do not recall his name, was most helpful in explaining to us some of the Lebanese foods, meats, and pastries.

Even though I am a baker, etc., I do not truly make candies. I do have old-fashioned Amish/Mennonite recipes for candies and other delicacies. But candymaking is not my specialty. Boy, the Lebanese people sure know how to make some great candies and desserts! Yes, it is in Falls Church, but well worth the drive.

Our quads went with me and a girlfriend of mine today. We had lunch and a "mini-tour" of the butcher's store. Info is listed below on the Lebanese Butcher & Restaurant. The Lebanese Butcher also has its USDA slaughterhouse in Warrenton, VA area. Slaugherhouse is open to public every Sunday fro 9 am to 5 pm.

The Butcher store is not just for Lebanese customers. The Butcher has beef, lamb, and poultry. As well as goat meat, calves, etc. Well serviced to all customers. The Butcher & Market also has fresh yogurt, cheeses, etc. Needless to say, the kiddos loaded up on "goodies" as well as the adult "kiddos"--

Info/addresses and web site are below--

www.lebanesebutcher.com (Lebanese Butcher/Restaurant's site/info.)

Hours (call to verify) are from Sundays through Saturdays (7 days a week) from 10 am to 9 pm.

Lebanese Restaurant
109 East Annandale Road
Falls Church, VA
(703) 241-2012

Lebanese Butcher & Market (located next door to Lebanese Restaurant--same owners)
113 East Annandale Road
Falls Church, VA
(703) 533-2903

Good eats--

Foodie

 

Forgot to add the Lebanese Butcher & Market is a SEPARATE business than the slaughterhouse. The restaurant is located next door to the butcher/market.

Foodie

 

thanks for the hot tip! Our very own Mezza Grill (near Safeway) has a dynamite menu and excellent Greek, Turkish and Lebanese dishes. so if you don't feel like driving all the way to Tysons- our backyard has authentic and delicious cuisine in it as well!

 

Has anyone tried the Sorrento Grill on Waxpool? They're Mediterranean also.

 

also good- i prefer the authenticity and variety of Mezza though... Silk Road Afghan Cuisine in Lansdowne is another excellent Middle Eastern option.

 

redon1 and others--

You are welcome! We prefer Mezza Grill also.

If you wish the name of some good Turkish coffee--recommended by Lebanese Butcher & Restaurant owners--try a brand called KURUKAHVECI MEHMET EFENDI--which is imported from Turkey. Great coffee and you don't have to use alot!

By the way, I will post on the "Misc. Local Ethnic Markets..." thread more Ethnic Market resources for other Persian, Turkish, Greek, and other Middle Eastern markets all within an hour's drive as well as other Ethnic Markets. I will do that tomorrow as well as other "Foodie" tips.

Have a great week--

Foodie

 

I prefer Sorrento over Mezza.

 

My husband and I tried Sorrento last night - it's really good......now we'll have to try Mezza to compare!!