Maysaloun Cafe
With a hand- annotated book in one hand, a non-stop moving cane in the other and a red tarbouch upon his head, the Hakawati used to work his way to the ears and imagination of his small audience. Facing a bunch of mustached men waiting in anticipation the fables of murder mysteries, legendary hardhearted gladiators and revengeful bloody wars in the desert, the old wiseacre would fee
d their starvation for adventure and quench their thirst for braving wildness. Away from cock-and-bull stories and figures of speech, today’s deal is giving you a real catch while killing you’re daylong pangs of hunger. Switch the tales of the thousand and one night’s with the taste of a thousand and one delights with $12 for $23.5 worth of an iftar set menu per person at Maysaloun Cafe. The Holy month of Ramadan is not only about religious observances and spiritual reflection; it’s a time for family get-togethers, reunion with friends and, of course, community meals. After refraining from eating from sunrise till sunset, an easy breezy square meal bringing together relatives and providing an utmost and utter bliss and satiation is what a Saa’em aims for. Today’s deal is rewarding nabbers with an Iftar that is just deserts. Take a break from the drudgery of thinking about fixing meals and actually going through the cooking process, and give yourself a 4-course treat prepared the way you’d do it at home. Crème de la crème Iftar
After a long period of thirst, wet you whistles with Ramadan’s favorite, Jellab or sample the Indian date drink, Tamarind. Dried apricot Juice, fizzy drinks, tea and coffee are also on the open drinks menu, refreshing your palates and re-energizing with essentials and nippy fluids. A smartpants once asserted that “good soup is one of the prime ingredients of good living. For soup can do more to lift the spirits and stimulate the appetite than any other one dish”, put his saying to the test as you choose between the delectable lentil soup and the veggielicious and wholesome vegetable soup. Skipping appetizers this evening is out of the question, Maysaloun takes the tasty and tantalizing tidbits to wider (and bigger) horizons with a hefty selection of dainty goodies. Start off with dates and Fattouch and work your way to the sizzling Batata Harra and Loubye bil zeit. Walk that extra mile to relish on the delightful creamy Homos and tangy Moutabbal Batenjaan, the flavors are so appetite inducing that they’ll trick you to nibble on the Hindbeh and Vines leaves. Meatatarians have a set of a-moo-zingly mouthwatering gifts, spinach pastries, samos, cheese rakakaat and kebbeh. Moving on to the main dish, nabbers can cherry pick between the savory stuffed lamb and the delightful Eastern flavored chicken with rice. There is no food as good as mum’s, but Maysaloun always makes an exception. Sweet teeth would be thrilled to know that their Iftar doesn’t end here. The restaurant has taken the responsibility of stuffing you until your belly goes down and caters for more than so-so desserts. Finish off with Osmlah, cream and nuts Qatayef, Kalaj or Aich El Saraya and let the divine taste takes you high. Eat to the beat
Dubbed after the street that’s host it, Maysaloun sticks to its Lebanese roots making tribute to authentic Arabic meals; the vast and assorted array of dishes starts from the typical foul and medammas in the morning for a protein punch knocking early day sleepiness out and stretches to Levantine tinted appetizers and Mezze. The place is a Ho**ah temple as well specializing in all sorts of flavors to rejoice in. While the caterpillar in Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland took Sheesha smoking to the big screen, Maysaloun did a whale of a job taking it even further combining it to genuine setting and ambiance including Oud shows, Tarab and Oriental music. Spare some time to unwind with friends and cast everyday worries a million miles away as you pair off for an amusing and challenging game of cards, or learn new skills while giving your brain a challenge as you get the 411 on how to play Backgammon. High speed internet access is available for those who seek to chill out while finishing an overdue project or workload.
