Little Lebanon Cafe

I recently moved to Perth, it's a large, isolated city, which thanks to the mining boom now one of the most expensive cities in the world - but at it’s heart, it remains a big country town "cashed up bogans" is a common term used to describe the people of Perth… I moved from Adelaide, which despite its sleepy, static, affordable and conservative nature, has amazing food on every corner. Perth not so much. I think the fact that there is sooo much money here, substandard businesses survive, I have eaten at some seriously shitty restaurant’s lately - many of which have rave reviews on urbane spoon, I guess some people just don't know any better. Instead of complaining about the bad ones, I've decided to share the good ones, starting with the little gem called the “Little Lebanon Café” at 200 Main St in Osborne Park.

We walked in through the front, which was full of young people drinking tea and smoking shisha. It was a Monday and the enormous restaurant was at about 50% capacity, which I thought was pretty impressive for a cold winters night. Everything on the menu is Halal and although they don't provide alcohol, they are b.y.o. licenced and we were told with a smile that a bottle shop was just two doors up the street.

Service wasn't lightening speed, but it was nice to not feel rushed. I felt like they would have been happy for us to sit and talk all night if we wanted to.

Vegetarian Sambousik (spinach and fetta)

Entree was vegetarian sambousik pastries, served with some pickled vegetables and tomato - it was incredible and one of the highlights. The baby spinach had only just wilted and the spinach flavour was really fresh. It was simple and delicious.

Fattoush

A serve of fattoush salad showered in yummy sumac dressing

 

Chicken Platter

For mains we had a chicken platter - two skewers of tender marinated chicken cooked over charcoal with salad, fried onions, hommus, garlic sauce, pita and rice. The rice was to die for, I think it was cooked in come kind of lamb broth with lots of cinnamon... serious highlight. The flavour and texture combination of the whole meal was just ace. The flavour and texture combination of the whole meal was just ace.

Lahm Mashwi

we also got a serve of the lamb skewers, which were... a little dry but still tasty.

I finished it off with a piece of turkish delight with pistachios in it... but I ate it too quickly to take a photo. We will return!