Olive Lebanese Eatery

What a find! This is the closest I've come to liking something over Lebanese Taverna. The Baba Ghanoush and Hummus were light and airy, filled with lemon and very fresh. The pita had a puffy softness and was gently sweet. The grape leaves were smooth, creamy and had a nice tang. The falafel isn't as crispy as I like but the essence was perfect with full-bodied seasoning and a nice kick. The tahini was equally yummy and layered in taste, I just would have liked more of it on the Falafel Bowl I got. I also treated myself to the Grilled Halloumi Cheese which had the perfect saltiness to balance against the other offerings. It wasn't perfect. I felt that the "greens" were overwhelming in what was supposed to be a rice bowl, tomatoes where supposed to come with some of the appetizers but were paltry. The Chocolate Croissant had a good amount of chocolate but was too bready and a bit leaden. Ideally, a croissant should be flaky and buttery, so that you can focus on the stuff inside. Overall however, I liked this place a LOT. It's got a pretty interior with large windows, bright colors on the ceiling and one wall which was balanced by a soft green print on the other walls. Fun, upbeat music played while I was there and the chairs provided for those awaiting take-out were large and comfy. I will definitely be going back, assuming they can stay in business. I found out about the restaurant when I read of the owner's distress over two back-to-back break-ins. And it's not easy to find. The address puts it on Glebe Road but it's tucked back on a service road, separated from the main drag by two large buildings. Parking is a pain and the only reason I stumbled upon it, after looking for a bit, was because I wandered past SER to see what looked like some greenspace behind the buildings. Besides enjoying the food, there are two more reasons to return. First, it's woman-owned (I like supporting women-owned businesses) and second, they have breakfast. I live for Shakshuka. So, yes, assuming they can stick around, I will be returning.

Counter-service Lebanese
110 N. Glebe Rd. #GR-3, Arlington
https://www.olivelebaneseeatery.com/

Comments

Afghan Bistro

With family members moving to Springfield, it has been a struggle to find good places to eat so far afield. After flirting with some chain restaurants near the mall, we tried a Pakistani restaurant (there are many, many Pakistani restaurants there), but it fell flat. Finally, someone suggested this amazing place. It's a little hole-in-the-wall in a strip mall. With oilcloth table coverings, the vibe seems questionable. For about a minute. Then you are warmly greeted and given menus with a plethora of choices. My party ordered a great number of items and every dish rose above expectations. The staff are eager to please and checked in to make sure everything was okay, from food to drink needs. When a member of my party dropped a piece of silverware on the floor one of the waiters swooped in with a replacement before we could even ask. But onto the food. We ordered the Potato and Leek turnovers, the Aushak (leek and sc...

First Watch

Meant to invite some family members here but a friend beat me to the punch. We compromised and went together. Unfortunately, this is a place where it looks better than it is. Across the board. The funky design scheme makes it an echo chamber and, with the pumping music, very loud. Conversation was difficult. The menu is covered in glossy photos and descriptions of the food but ... I started with the Morning Meditation Fresh Juice, a pretty blend of citrus and beet. Or I tried to. Took three reminders to the waiter and when it finally arrived, halfway into the meal, it was 90% ice and 10% juice. My companions opted for coffee. It was ice cold. Another long wait (about 20 minutes) to get new coffee -- and included a reminder to staff that they wanted fresh cups as well. I ordered the Vegetarian Quinoa Bowl, which was described as having up to 12 ingredients. It had three. The quinoa, an egg, maybe two teen...

Dera

Was looking for a good Pakistani restaurant in Springfield and this one had some of the best reviews, so I gave it a shot. Arrived for an early dinner to find some regulars around a table in a cavernous room. The restaurant staff looked at us like we had interrupted a private party. We sat and were grudgingly given menus after asking. Tepid water in questionably clean glasses were eventually brought. One member of the party ordered a salad. It arrived in a large mixing bowl and was mostly iceberg lettuce. A plastic basket of cold bread was literally "dumped" on the table, then the waiter disappeared. Eventually we were able to get someone to take our orders, which included a curry, a biryani and a kebab. Portions were huge and the rice, again, came in what looked like a mixing bowl. It was enough to feed ten. The food wasn't bad. Sometimes the seasonings were a bit heavy handed (particularly for the rice) but it was...

DCVegEats

Search This Blog