Authentic, gem of a place.
Cedars Cafe serves the real-deal Lebanese cuisine in a comfortable and friendly environment. There are a few other ethnic/specialty eateries in the same shopping center, such as a popular BBQ joint and a Thai restaurant. My favorite spot, however, is Cedars Cafe.
Here are some highlights:
- Super friendly owner, who checks on each table personally - he goes the extra step to make sure you feel welcomed (as an aside, I notice this in Middle Eastern restaurants)
- Hummus is creamy goodness - I get mine sans extra olive oil, so I can enjoy the purity of the chickpea ingredients
- Grapes leaves, Kibbeh, and Falafel are all stand out for the vegetarians
- Chicken Schwarma and Lamb dishes are great for the omnivores - the chicken schwarma, in particular, is excellently marinated, served with a garlic dipping sauce, and comes atop a bed of fragrant rice with a lightly dressed salad and the aforementioned stellar hummus to boot
Free refills, absurdly low prices, you can't get better than this. Even the appetizers are served with extras such as pickled vegetables, which shows a devotion to the customer experience and harkening to the flavors/textures of Lebanese cuisine.
Oh, for the Middle Eastern neophytes, they have a lamb gyro with french fries lunch special that is an easy first step.