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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/


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