Authentic Arab cuisine is difficult to find in Sri Lanka, especially when what you want is originality, not altered by any means. The Lebanese Restaurant signs off this worry of finding authentic Middle Eastern cuisine!

Located on Marine Drive, with the beautiful views of the sea, you'd find a cosy restaurant with rich wall art and an open kitchen, where the turning meat and the shawarma making process can be witnessed. Not to mention the delightful Arabic music, friendly staff and a dashing Lebanese chef that complete the equation! 

Fresco Juice (Rs. 170) 

We started off with the perfect drink that would beat your thirst in this hot weather. It looked funky and it was more or less a mixed fruit snow cone drink! 

Lebanese Mezze Platter (Rs. 1150) 

This being the appetizer, had hummus, mutabal, fattoush, tabouli served with two pieces of Lebanese bread; it was a large portion and was price efficient. Furthermore the dips were delicious and rich in flavour, from the aromatic salad to the crispy croutons and the thick hummus layered with fresh olive oil and the thick herby fattoush. 

Mixed Grill - Small (Rs. 1300) 

Mixed grills are a local favourite in the Middle East and are considered a main. This mixed grill consisted of beef kebab, chicken kebab, shish tawook, quarter grilled chicken along with French fries, pickles, the restaurant's very own special sauce and grilled vegetables and Lebanese bread! The meat was juicy and succulent, and full of aromatic spices and flavour. 

Seafood Platter (Rs. 3000) 

The seafood platter consisted of a large grilled fish along with well marinated jumbo prawns, batterfried prawns and crispy calamari. The fish was soft and full of wholesome flavour, whereas the jumbo prawns had a smoky flavour from the charcoal grill. The batter-fried prawns and calamari were quite oily yet had a light and airy flavour. 

Baklava (Rs. 300) 

For dessert, Arabs go crazy with their nuts and sugar syrup and pastries. Baklava is a common dessert found all over the Middle East with different stuffing. The ones at the Lebanese Restaurant had four pieces in one portion; although small, it was mouthwatering. The pastry was crispy and oozed nuts and sugar syrup and kept you wanting more. 

Konafa (Rs. 450) 

We've all tried cheesecake, of course, but this Arab delicacy brings together stringy cheese pastry soaked in an abundance of nuts and honey! 

Lebanese Restaurant has an extensive menu from shawarma to grilled items to rice and desserts, and much more! So do drop by! 

Address: No. 25, Marine Drive, Colombo 03 
Contact number: 0767 666 668 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lebaneserestlk 
Email: [email protected] 

Photographs by Kushan Pathiraja