| rev:text
| - Were but a dining experience primarily made up of its environment, Levant would surely warrant five stars. However, the price to value ratio (especially compared to its less formal sister restaurants) and lack of menu originality leaves me wanting.
Nestled across from the Knight Theater along the Avenue of the Arts, Levant's interior space is small but quite luxurious. Finely carved wooden chairs with inlaid mother of pearl, ornate wall sconces and chandeliers that evoke thoughts of the Middle East, and ancient mirrors all set against an impeccably stark, modern white background make for quite a visual feast for the eyes.
There is no bar menu currently, though a full range of spirits is available. There is, however, a separate menu for wine and beer. Wine selection is small but at least makes a worthy appeal to most palates. The beer menu, though, was far more interesting in its selection of European beers. Turkish Efes is hard to find locally but was offered here, along with a hefty handful of others beers that are not on your typical restaurant menu. Originality, though, apparently died on this bar menu and never leapt onto the main menu...
The dinner menu was divided into appetizers, main plates and sides. Somewhat unsurprisingly, most of the sides are also appetizer listings at greater prices. I'm sure the portion sizes are bigger, but $8 for hummus feels a bit much. Kudos for putting Mihammara on the menu, as it is a nice change up, but you likely know most of the other staples: falafel, tabouleh, stuffed grape leaves, baba ghannouj... and all will cost at least $8 for the appetizer portion. They were well prepared, but again seemed a tad expensive. Fresh pita does come to the table, though that seems small consolation.
Maybe it was by the time I scanned the entree portion of the menu that I had a sweeping feeling of de ja vu come over me... where have I seen this before? It is no secret that the owner of this restaurant also has the well-established Kabob Grill locations in Dilworth and Ballantyne, and now I am sure why: The menu is the same- same dishes, same kabob combos, same options. Even the prices seem to be the same. So bottom line diners: you are paying the same prices for the same food you could walk in and order in your shorts just two miles away. This might be fine with some, but I was really hoping for something new, different and risky- especially with a space that builds expectations quite high.
I can only conclude that the owners have played it safe using a menu that has worked well elsewhere and hoping for the same success. That well may work with the visitors to uptown who are not wise to the surrounding neighborhood stops, but really there is no reason a native Charlottean should make this a "must visit" as you've seen and tasted it all before. With heavy competition just next door, I am hoping Levant will grow and step up to meet the challenge.
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