Lebanese food (no, not lesbian)
Last sunday, I went to a Lebanese restaurant for the first time in my life. I went with some people that I kinda knew from college (before the break)and most of them happen to be really religious. So I was a little apprehensive. But, this will be my first time ever talking about steaks on this journal, so I might as well tell about it. First though, I shall talk about the experience I had before, during, and after the restaurant.
Going down there was an experience. I just now noticed it, but I do not know that many hicks. You would think I would, being in Texas and all, but this is not so. I don't have a texas accent at all, but I do say all the usual stuff like "y'all" and crap like that. But WOW! There were a lot of hicks in our group. I went with about 16 people and a good half of them sounded like they just got off their horses to come to dinner. Even the girls. So first kinda awkward moment for me right there, because I struggled the entire time not to crack jokes about anyones accent. Mainly because they could all beat me up, yes, even the women. And in the truck I was in, the first batch of music that was played was country. Another awkward moment, because I despise country in all forms. That music is just not for me. I don't know what it is, but the music just gets on my nerves. The only thing I don't like as much as country is rap. So guess what was next on the cds to be played? Now, it was clean rap (since I was driving with a bunch of baptists) but still. Rap is rap. I only like some rap songs (like "I like big butts", or "Ice Ice Baby). Once we actually got to the restaurant (Which was called Al-Amir) I had about a good week's worth of joke material stuck in my head.
The place itself, on the outside, looked horrible. We actually started making remarks that this could actually be a strip club instead, it looked that bad. But bravely we set forth into the Lebanese unknown. Once we got inside, however, it was changed. The place had hand painted walls that featured a (I'm guessing) Lebanese countryside, complete with stars. Since there was black light-bulbs also used along with the regular ones, the stars glowed, which was a cool effect. And there was a belly dancer there, but she was a little girl, so I didn't pay too much attention. I ended up sitting next to the boyfriends of one of the people that were there, and we started to talk about World of Warcraft, so I had a good dinner conversation about warlocks and such.
The food itself was excellent. Some of the people there ordered "The Feast" which was a $70 meal that fed 4 people. Well worth it. It was shish-ka-bob galore there. I ordered the "Sharhat", which was the Lebanese steak. Oh my god guys, it was great. It was pretty thin, so I had to get it well done, but it was good enough that it didn't matter. The sauce was excellent, and it tasted wonderful. The only thing I could detract from it was the fact that it was pretty hard to cut, which made it harder for me to eat it all in one gulp :( It also came with a side of rice that I guess was also cooked in garlic and spinach or something, and it was great as well. Also there was garlic pickles, pickled turnips, and some pita bread. The salad I got before was surprisingly good as well. The dressing was sorta like an Italian dressing, and it tasted great. All in all, good food. I would highly recommend the place, or Lebanese food in general.
Now we started eating around 8:00 or so, but around 9:30 the real entertainment arrived: A real, honest to god, totally not a little girl belly dancer. I had seen some before, of course, but she was damn good. I commented to Jennifer later that if you attached some swords or something to her hips she could cut down a forest in no time. But I felt bad for her too. All of us were staring at her, including two weird creepy guys in the background, and it just weirded me out I guess. She was good, but I don't like that form of entertainment or something. I guess I kept seeing her as a person that probably didn't like what she was doing, instead of just admiring the way she kept shaking her hips or something. But hey, she was nice to look at as well, so I guess I can't complain too much.
Anyways, on the way back was more of the same. More rap and more country. Oh! That reminds me. While we were eating, they had Lebanese music playing. Every once in a while, you would get a very modern sounding song that obviously was influenced by America. But then when a rap song started playing, with some guy rapping in Lebanese, I started laughing.
But again, the food was great. 4 stars, whatever, the whole shebang. I hope to go back there eventually.
Going down there was an experience. I just now noticed it, but I do not know that many hicks. You would think I would, being in Texas and all, but this is not so. I don't have a texas accent at all, but I do say all the usual stuff like "y'all" and crap like that. But WOW! There were a lot of hicks in our group. I went with about 16 people and a good half of them sounded like they just got off their horses to come to dinner. Even the girls. So first kinda awkward moment for me right there, because I struggled the entire time not to crack jokes about anyones accent. Mainly because they could all beat me up, yes, even the women. And in the truck I was in, the first batch of music that was played was country. Another awkward moment, because I despise country in all forms. That music is just not for me. I don't know what it is, but the music just gets on my nerves. The only thing I don't like as much as country is rap. So guess what was next on the cds to be played? Now, it was clean rap (since I was driving with a bunch of baptists) but still. Rap is rap. I only like some rap songs (like "I like big butts", or "Ice Ice Baby). Once we actually got to the restaurant (Which was called Al-Amir) I had about a good week's worth of joke material stuck in my head.
The place itself, on the outside, looked horrible. We actually started making remarks that this could actually be a strip club instead, it looked that bad. But bravely we set forth into the Lebanese unknown. Once we got inside, however, it was changed. The place had hand painted walls that featured a (I'm guessing) Lebanese countryside, complete with stars. Since there was black light-bulbs also used along with the regular ones, the stars glowed, which was a cool effect. And there was a belly dancer there, but she was a little girl, so I didn't pay too much attention. I ended up sitting next to the boyfriends of one of the people that were there, and we started to talk about World of Warcraft, so I had a good dinner conversation about warlocks and such.
The food itself was excellent. Some of the people there ordered "The Feast" which was a $70 meal that fed 4 people. Well worth it. It was shish-ka-bob galore there. I ordered the "Sharhat", which was the Lebanese steak. Oh my god guys, it was great. It was pretty thin, so I had to get it well done, but it was good enough that it didn't matter. The sauce was excellent, and it tasted wonderful. The only thing I could detract from it was the fact that it was pretty hard to cut, which made it harder for me to eat it all in one gulp :( It also came with a side of rice that I guess was also cooked in garlic and spinach or something, and it was great as well. Also there was garlic pickles, pickled turnips, and some pita bread. The salad I got before was surprisingly good as well. The dressing was sorta like an Italian dressing, and it tasted great. All in all, good food. I would highly recommend the place, or Lebanese food in general.
Now we started eating around 8:00 or so, but around 9:30 the real entertainment arrived: A real, honest to god, totally not a little girl belly dancer. I had seen some before, of course, but she was damn good. I commented to Jennifer later that if you attached some swords or something to her hips she could cut down a forest in no time. But I felt bad for her too. All of us were staring at her, including two weird creepy guys in the background, and it just weirded me out I guess. She was good, but I don't like that form of entertainment or something. I guess I kept seeing her as a person that probably didn't like what she was doing, instead of just admiring the way she kept shaking her hips or something. But hey, she was nice to look at as well, so I guess I can't complain too much.
Anyways, on the way back was more of the same. More rap and more country. Oh! That reminds me. While we were eating, they had Lebanese music playing. Every once in a while, you would get a very modern sounding song that obviously was influenced by America. But then when a rap song started playing, with some guy rapping in Lebanese, I started laughing.
But again, the food was great. 4 stars, whatever, the whole shebang. I hope to go back there eventually.