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| - I thought I reviewed this place ages ago and realize that it was all in my head. Perhaps because I live so close to it that I thought I reviewed it by osmosis.
Middle Eastern Bakery & Deli is a one-stop shop for a lot of Middle Eastern foodstuffs, from jars of olives to tins of nougat and from 4-foot tall hookahs to intricately carved wooden backgammon boards. The market is small, and as such its offerings aren't nearly as abundant as Baiz Market a few miles down the road, but it has most core items well in stock.
As for the food, I've had the chicken kebab plate. I realize this is what I order at all of these joints, but it's a good gauge to see how each establishment prepares this dish. Chicken may seem easy, but to do it well you have to marinate the pieces long enough and cook it just right so its not pink or conversely not dry.
I thought my plate was a decent, albeit standard, effort. Nothing about it really leaped out at me, but would I eat it again? Probably. I've done it twice more already. I've also had the hummus and tabbouleh which were decent.
That said, I'll have to order other dishes, like the lamb, to see if the extra stars are lying elsewhere. There is a case displaying baklava and other desserts, in case you happen to be driving along 16th St and develop an intense craving for some out of nowhere.
All in all, 3 stars for now. It's a solid, little establishment that provides all the basics, in both the restaurant and the market. Perhaps superlatives will come in the future. Downside is that they close early - 6 pm, so unless you leave the office in time, you're out of luck.
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