Lebanese Butcher Restaurant?

[MikeR]

The shop's been open for quite a while now (on Hillwood Ave around the corner from the building gutted by fire where they used to be) but I wonder if they ever re-opened the restaurant. I stopped in shortly after they moved into the new location and asked if they planned to open the restaurant and they said they did, when they got the space in order.

I recall that there are a few folks who get meat from the shop. Did you notice if there's a restaurant yet? It looks like there should be a separate door like in the old place, but there's no sign.

[Steve]

SIx of us had lunch here yesterday. The place is very large and the menu seems expanded. Instead of a homey little place, it is now a more 'serious' cavernous restaurant.

The results were mixed. We didn't try some of my favorites, like the lamb shawarma, fettoush salad, felafel, or the makenak sausage. And I will stop by sometime soon for the chicken shawarma sandwich which used to be a staple of my diet.

We tried the kibbee nayee (raw beef), quite nice, very smooth, with a pronounced olive oil finish. Not that I would want a whole plate of it. Two in our group were experienced 'lamb brain' eaters and enjoyed them here. I would have liked more spicing. The soujouk, spicy sausage in a slightly peppery sauce, were delicious. The baba ganouj was ultra-creamy, which I don't think is a compliment. I didn't like the quail before the fire, and again here the skin doesn't get crispy, and they are just ok. The lamb ouzi is a rice and lamb mixture that was ok. I prefer the somewhat similar makluba at Jerusalem in Bailey's Crossroads.

I will definitely go back for some of my old favorites, but it may take them some time to adjust.

[ktmoomau]

I too had a mixed experience. But we liked the quail, it's a large portion of four quail and I liked the lemon thyme sauce. And my Lamb Schwarma was good (although it is served with Lays?). Don't order fries with your platter, get rice.

I still am not a fan of their pita and their new space was cavernously large and empty, and smokey. I don't know how the kitchen will ever function when they are full. Service was fine, kitchen was a little slow, but that is rather normal. We were also perplexed by the fine dining v. casual dining rift on the table. I hope they find their grove as their food really is good when it is good.

[Steve]

Thanks fro your report. Of course I meant to say above that the kibbee nayee is raw lamb. I guess I had been thinking of a WOW steak tartare I had recently while typing that.

The shawarma will be next for me.

[MikeR]

Last week someone (who I think used the name of the dish as his on-line name here) was raving about the kibbee nayee here. I was expecting something more like kitfo than what we got. It wasn't very highly spiced and was about the consistency of dog food (or, as some might call it, pate). It wasn't bad, but it looked much better than it tasted and felt in my mouth. I could eat a whole plate of a decent kitfo that size, but a couple of dabs on a bit of pita was enough kibbee nayee for me.

I'd go back for a shawarma or soujouk sandwich, my favorites at the old restaurant, but this just doesn't look and feel like a place to go into for a simple sandwich lunch. I rarely have any problem with dining alone, but I guess I'd feel better about popping in here myself for a sandwich if the place wasn't so empty. Wish I could help that.

[ktmoomau]

We will probably do more take out now.

[beanodc]

Any updated info. on the Lebanese Butcher restaurant?

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Lebanese Butcher & Restaurant
109 E Annandale Rd, Falls Church, VA 22046

[comestibles]

It opened on the 19th of Aug.

2922 Annandale Rd., Falls Church, VA 22042
703-241-2012

[Ziv]

I drove by the old location yesterday and it was bricks and concrete rubble. That location is too good to stay a burned out shell for long. Time to hit the new location of Lebanese Butcher/Mount Lebanon!

[ktmoomau]

It is opening very soon. Lebanese Butcher bought, and is building out, the old Majestic restaurant and night club around the corner and up Annandale Road, towards Rt. 50. It is going to be called Mount Lebanon.

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Lebanese Butcher & Restaurant
109 E Annandale Rd, Falls Church, VA 22046

[MikeR]

Cool. Thanks. It looked like they were going to open the restaurant in the space next door to the butcher shop but I guess either that didn't work out (permits and such) or starting with a restaurant shell seemed like a better idea. I hope it doesn't turn out to be too big/fancy/expensive. I liked the simple but tasty menu and lack of atmosphere of the old place.

[ktmoomau]

I think the shop itself expanded or is expanding soon too. I loved the gaudy fountain in the old place.

[MikeR]

Right, I shouldn't have said "lack of atmosphere," That was enough atmosphere. ;) I wonder if they salvaged that fountain for the new location.

[ktmoomau]

Oh I hope they have!!! It always amused me. Especially with the lack of decor all around and then the fountain. I don't know why, but I really have an attachment to it.

[MikeR]

Sorry, no fountain, but you can smoke a hookah on the outdoor patio. Some of those are pretty ornate.