144829 Tue May 20 00:54:11 -0700 2003 2 12 Boston Area 0 776336 Was dismayed to find that Beiruit Restaurant closed a few weeks ago. It's replaced by Mirage, a Persian place. I already had a five spice beef noodle soup from Wing's followed closely by a sweet bean paste bun from Maxim's when I walked by Mirage. I didn't chow on anything huge there, just sampled a baklava for old times sake. Pretty good, brittle parchment thin filo. The pistacchio nut paste was mild compared to the nut-buttery Beiruit's version, but had something like a lemon/citrus scent to it. Not as good as Beiruit's superlative version unfortunately, but still worthwhile. Will probably be back to try something real. Love to hear any reports, since it's near where I work and live. Mirage on beacon Hill 21 A Beacon Street (A block away from the Federalist) Boston, MA 02108 617-367-0700 price range: sandwiches $3.99-5.99 lunch specials $5.99-9.99 apps and salads $1.99-5.99, except for the fatoosh salad with chicken ($9.99) or shrimp ($11.99) entrees in the low-mid teens combo platters $20.95 or $22.95 yoghurt drink/dugh comes at $2.50 desserts $1.19-$3.50 Tue May 20 00:54:11 -0700 2003 0 Limster 1 776339 We ended up there for Mother's Day, and were unimpressed, although we were trying our best to like the place. Pardon my unfamiliarity with the proper dish names. We ate upstairs, so perhaps one might have a better takeout experience. The Dolmeh was fine (although the waitress totally forgot about it and I ended up eating it after my dinner and then only because I asked about it.) I wanted the dish on the menu with the lamb shank, but they said they didn't have that. Same with the yogurt drink. There were two lamb kebab dishes on the menu. I had the "Mirage Kebab" and a friend had "Lamb Kebab". There really wasn't much difference between the dishes, although mine had a bit more spice flavor. The lamb itself wasn't bad, fairly tender and not fatty. Hubby had felafel, and it was overcooked, greasy, tough and lukewarm. A big disappointment. Friend had the vegetarian sampler with felafel, tabbouleh and something else that slips my mind. Felafel was same as hubby's. Tabbouleh was pretty good. Friends also had lentil soup which was probably the best dish we had, and the cucumber yogurt dip which was also pretty good. The bill was fairly high for an unexceptional bill. Hubby's boss is Iranian and says the owners also have a place in Framingham and "we never go there, it's awful." Tue May 20 06:44:08 -0700 2003 776336 0 Chris VR 2 776415 Many thanks -- spared me a trip. Tue May 20 17:32:00 -0700 2003 776339 0 Limster