tarboush lebanese bistro

'licious lebanese. as we were seeking an experience thats a little more upscale than what they offer at nicholas or riyadh's (our usual middle eastern haunts) we settled on tarboush for a weekday lunch excursion. the setting was both pleasant and dignified and our hostess was a fine match to the warm interior. we started things off with a couple of their specialty cocktails (muddy waters, mullberry mojito) and lounged our way through the menu. chicken breast w/ basmati and steamed veggies sounded about right for me while the misses decided to be a little more daring and went with their kibbeh bi’sayniyeh. as we were placing our order the place began to overflow with people, so im glad we got them in before we got lost in the mix. that being said, it still took almost a half an hour to get our food. our server came by a couple times to ensure us it was indeed on the way and that they hadnt forgotten about us, so points for that. finally, the chef brought our plates out to us and it all looked divine. mrs. mcstyles is used to kibbeh thats shaped like meatballs, whereas tarboush's rendition was shaped more like a slice of cake. but it didnt matter, as she said the flavors and texture were dead on. as for my chicken; it was grilled to perfection; tender with a nice, lite garlic glaze to add just a perfume of flavor without overwhelming. the one minus was that it was supposed to come with some kind of red dipping sauce and it didnt. i probably shouldve asked for it but they were so busy i didnt really want to bother her. bed of basmati was lite and delicious as well.
overall, this was a very nice meal. i enjoy the cuisine at the places i mentioned above but this was a bit more formal of an experience. which is exactly what we were in the mood for.
grade: b+ (really wish that i had gotten to try the dipping sauce and that things had come out a little quicker, but we'll definitely be back)

we went to tarboush or a late christmas visit with my cousin and her fiance.  the building is beautiful.  parking was much easier than i expected.  it has never been a problem each time we come, though we always expect it will be since the restaurant is right on hawthorne.  the room was just the right temperature and the chairs were very comfortable.  it seemed slightly crowded in the space.  i had a little attention on whether someone might go past and bump into my elderly mom. 

we had potatoes as an appetizer, and i loved them.  so did my elderly mom.  they were roasted with olive oil, herbs and green onion.   

my cousin and her fiance each ordered the vegetarian mezze.  my cousin could eat only about half of her order, her boyfriend ate all of his.  she kept exclaiming about how delicious it was.  he at every drop and said he enjoyed it.  the plate was large and there was a lot of food.  i believe two smaller eaters, such as my cousin, could be satisfied to share only one of those mezze.

my mom and i shared a tarboush mezze with the meat.  it was enough for both of us to end up overeating.  the lamb sausage was simply fantastic.  the chicken so so delicious.  the rice:  my mom said she has never tasted better rice.  the hummus was ok though bland, but the baba ganouge was "to die for".  i think it is just fantastic, and i would go back another time just to order that.  perfect. 

the price was reasonable considering what we got.  60 for food for four and all superb quality and generous quantity. 

the service was casual but caring. 

the pita is delicious.  my cousin is into gluten free, and she was impressed with the gluten free bread.

a pleasant place to catch a bite in the heart of the hawthorne district. waite staff is attentive, professional and friendly.

stopped in, after years of driving by, and was not disappointed. very nice interior, good service and had an extensive menu with the typical lebanese meals.

will come back but i do have 2 others that are favorites - one being right down the street. maybe a second trip will help to decide if tarboush can displace one or the other.

amazing, healthy meal. i couldn't agree more with the reviewer named shawn. i don't know what he had, but the vegetarian platter i had was outstanding. incredible tabouleh, fresh homemade pita, baba ganoush, hummus, falafel and grape leaves. everything was so fresh and the flavors popped. they are a little pricey, but there was enough left to take home. the restaurant is in a beautiful old house and also has an outdoor seating area. i think they also offer hookah and they have a full bar. a must try in the area.

easily one of the best meals i've ever had. very good service and selection, beautiful on the inside! i will definitely be going back.

we have eaten at tarboush at least once a month for the last 3 years and found it consistently well above average. we always take note of the very fresh ingredients... i've never gotten the impression that the food was remade. the veggie mezza is our favorite and the lentil soup is so good i've tried to copy it at home. we did notice that recently the prices not only in creased but flew up...disappointed but not enough to stay away.

overall, good lebanese. we met family here at 6:30 in the evening on a tuesday in early spring. parking is always a challenge on hawthorne but we were lucky. the inside is nicely decorated and furnished in the appropriate theme and there weren't many in the restaurant when we arrived. service from start to end was attentive, helpful and friendly.

they have a full bar and several in our party had cocktails, wine and beer.

we ordered three appetizers, the hummus, baba ghannouj and labne. all were good and served with freshly baked flat bread. the baba was delightfully, authentically smoky and smooth, and the other two very nice. if i was to be critical of any, it would be the hummus which seemed to lack enough flavor to make me want to sing praises. getting more fresh bread was easy as asking our waiter.

our dinners came as fast as they could be carried out of the kitchen.
my wife and i had the chicken kabobs and kafta with basmati rice. both were flavorful however the meats were overcooked and a touch on the dry side. i can imagine the challenge of cooking six meals and having them all ready to serve at once, i know i could not get it done without something like this happening. however, i am not working in a restaurant either.

other meals included the bamyeh, described as “a rich stew of okra, garlic, cilantro, and onions simmered in tomato sauce and served over a bed of basmati rice”. it was well prepared and presented, had a nice combination of flavors and textures, and was a satisfying dish.

from a vegetarian perspective, the menu had a large number of choices and has the typical middle east restaurant selection and goes beyond them with a few other dishes not seen before. our vegetarian felt that the food was tasty and well prepared, without being truly exceptional. the extensive vegetarian choices would definitely have him back to try more of them.

lamb shank. it was awesome!

the maamoul trifecta trio dessert was a surprise of three different filled cookies - one date, one walnut, one pistachio - each so rich we cut it into four heavenly bites.

at the end of the evening, most of us were too full for desserts and had left-overs. the evening ran around $25 - $30 per person with starters, beverages, meals and tip.

best lebanese food i've tasted! great service, if you like lamb try it here. it's so good i crave this place!

lebanonese food, like mediterranean or middle eastern food in general, is usually satisfying enough, but nothing exactly special. this place, however, is the first exception i've experienced. creative, authentic, and tasty entrees that make you wonder what you've been missing. service is attentive and warm. my favorite spot on hawthorne.

the service at tarboush is friendly, personable, attentive, anything you'd wish for. the food is very good. tonight we had the lamb shank (the best i've ever had!) and the best falafel. charming setting in an old, nicely renovated, house on hawthorne.

tasty. great food and service.

just ok. first of all, the service and atmosphere is excellent. visitors will enjoy a very friendly staff and a warm, intimate seating arrangement. however the food itself is salty! i'm sure i could have opted for less salt but i was not told in advance that this would be a wise requirement. the food was likeable but not enough to keep me coming back for more. i would definitely visit again for a few drinks and some hummus but that's about it.